Elven Love

Author's notes:
Still sorry for any mistakes *lol*. (Please see my notes for Chapters 1&2&3). Special thanks to Toni, my beta-reader! :)

Disclaimer:
I do not own The Lord of the Rings. I do not own Mirkwood. And I -
unfortunately - do not own Legolas. And if I would own him, I would most likely not share him with you. :-Þ


Chapter 4 : Riddles and Rites


A few hours later - the waxing moon was already bathing the world in its silvery light - Aelin sat on a small iron bench in the great gardens near the halls of the Elven King.

She inhaled the scent of wild Jasmine which was blossoming so brightly beside her. Aelin needed to have some time alone after she had listened to King Thranduil's words while walkeing in the gardens together with him and his son Legolas after dinner.

Still it was a riddle to her. The king had spoken of a knot that had finally been tied to complete a special bond, and that this bond was essential… for without it the quest of the nine would fail and the whole world should sink into the darkness of Mordor. Which quest? Why Nine? Aelin could not find the connection between herself and the words which the king had spoken.

She shivered. She had listened to king Thranduil's words but ere she realized that she… her very self… was part of this special bond, there flew away many moments of time. She heard the king's words spoken as if far away from her, as if hailing from a place of much greater power.

"For thou, Lady Aelin are part of this. And Legolas, my dear son… you are another part of it this. But then again… only a fragment of the prophecy so old has been revealed by now."

Neither Legolas nor Aelin seemed to fully understand Thranduil's words.

"Alas, father!" cried Legolas. "Why is it now, and why is it me!… and after all… why is it her!?"

"That, my son is not for us to question" the noble elven king answered. "For every change and every second in the structure of the world has it's meaning to the fate of life."

And then, looking at his son, his heir, he added in elven tongue: "Lasto beth nîn, Legolas, nîn ion (*) … the Lady Aelin knows of the mists of fate, though she does not seem to realize it at by now. You need to build trust in her abilities, and you need to learn to trust in her guidance, which is not by her hand but by her spirit. For your quest… for yours and your companions… is what the future of all life in Middle Eearth depends on".

"King Thranduil", Aelin spoke softly, "I wish to repeat the words of your son. Why me?" Questioningly she studied the expressions on the Kings face. He did not wish to reveal his full knowledge, but he did not wish to let them without a hint either, she felt.

"Well, Lady Aelin. Know, that you are not a mere witches child, as you have thought for many years of your life. Know that the elven blood that flows through your veins so vividly is the blood of a long line of noble elf lords." And with a smile he added "You might even find relatives you never thought you'd have amongst my courtiers"

Aelin lowered her head. One of the riddles of her life seemed to be solved in this moment, yet another one has come to the surface.

So there she sat, out in the gardens, deep in thought and not aware that somebody watched her from a secret spot in the shadows.

Legolas could not take his eyes of her while she was staring at the moon dreamily. He did not understand his father's words. How could the universe tie them together, him and Aelin, in this knot of riddles and questions, in this knot of fate, in this bond? He felt like being pushed around against his will, just like he used to kick stones out of his way on a dusty road.

His life was simple, full of joy…with an adventure every now and then, and now it should change it's direction and take the burden of being first a part of a long known prophecy and then of a fateful quest upon which depended the life or death of the world. He even did not know what this quest was about. And when will he have to go? Where will his journey lead? He was quite sure that it will be long and dangerous. But his father's eyes had been so full of hope. What was held for him in the future? Will he see many sunsets until he departs to Valinor… will he see the sea?

Again he laid his eyes upon Aelin. Something old and wise seemed to radiate from her very presence. Though she was only in her mid-twenties assuming from her looks, she possessed the knowledge and the eyes of a soul that was aged beyond thousands of years. Legolas shook his head. She literally burst into his life, making everything complicated and laying a shadow on his heart as well as uplifting it at the same time.

He pondered his fathers words again. He knew, Thranduil always choose wisely what to say, and so he, Legolas Greenleaf, did not doubt that Aelin's appearance here in Mirkwood was of paramount importance, as was the quest and the bond in the old prophecies of the elves. Still, there was some time left. Still it was not the time to go. Still, there might be more to come to the surface than the veils of fate had revealed at the moment.

"Aelin is of almost transcendental beauty with the moonlight caressing her face", Legolas thought. He wondered, how he could think that she was average when they first met. She was no average girl, that was something of he was very sure now. There was a hint of magic around her.

*****

The weeks passed by and Aelin started to feel home in Mirkwood. King Thranduil was a very wise man, and she talked to him much. So she also learned, that Arthenuel was a half-brother of hers. His father had once travelled to the land of her birth, the land of Namâree… where he fell in love with her mother, who was a sorceress.

Never had Aelin thought that she was of noble heritage. Her grandmother had planted the dark seed of mistrust against the race of elves in her heart, not because she hated the firstborn, but because she would have given her life to prevent Aelin from encountering the same fate as her mother did, when she fell for a noble elflord who came with his men to protect the area from orkish encroachments and gave him her life and her soul, just to be broken when he stayed true to his duties and left the land of Namâree to follow his king.

It may not be, Aelin thought desperately. She did not wish to be forced into a bond… she had not asked for it. No she did NOT want it, she refused to have this special link to a male elf.

~Liar! It's not about the prince… It's because you fear to loose your heart to him, like your mother did to another elf decades ago~

Her inner voice had long been quiet, but was whispering to her mind again now.

She also learned to know Legolas during her stay at Mirkwood. The prophecy seemed to be forgotten, and the shadows of the future were not able to harm the warm rays of sunlight that broke through the trees now.

Oh, he was a very fascinating man, Aelin thought. He was in many ways so much like her, they codiscdiscuss about arts and music. They really could talk to each other.. also there was a hint of stubbornness inside both of them and they also had a similar sense of humour and laughed a lot together, teasing each other and kidding about how they first met in the great hall.

Sometimes he watched her sitting alone outside in the garden in deep meditation. He did not dare to make a single noise and he always wondered where her spirit was travelling.

For both their light chat was not easy, nor was the deep discussions and walks in the forest together, because they tried to hide their growing affection for each other by any means; Aelin because it was not right for her and it felt like a betrayal of her family to fall for an elf, yes to even think about him the way she did in her dreams, and Legolas because he did not wish to show any weakness at all… nobody should see how the proud (and slightly arrogant) prince of Mirkwood made himself a fool for a girl.

But the harder they tried to hide it, the more the longing grew. It was there… the nameless flow of energy between their bodies, that made them gaze at each other dreamily when they thought the other one was not looking. The small glint in Aelin's eyes when she watched him training archery in the fields and also that the little shiver of his hand when he readied an arrow on his bow and was aiming at the mark while he felt her eyes on him … so very little signs they may be, so obvious it was for King Thranduil. Hope was rising in his heart again, as he saw Legolas and Aelin laughing together.

*****

And so came the end of Gwirith (**), and so came the evening before the fires of Beltaine that some the people in the land of Namâree used to celebrate.

"Legolas, come here.. stop hiding there", said Aelin softly, her eyes still closed. She often had sensed his presence when he was watching her secretly, but had never said anything. This night however, she needed to talk to him, because she wanted to find a place for her own celebration of the Beltaine ritual as she was taught by her grandmother.

Legolas felt like being caught stealing sugar from the castle's kitchen to feed the horses, as he did when he was a small child.

"I'm so very sorry, Aelin, for disturbing you…." he spoke, stepping out from the shadow of a small tree.

She smiled. "There is no need to be sorry, Legolas." And with a slight mischievous glint in her eye she added "I learn that elves are an as curious race as people tell that dwarves are"

"Ai!" uttered Legolas. "You are truly cruel in your judgement, aren't you. How can you compare a noble elf with a hole-digging dwarf?" He raised an eyebrow, but there was a smile in his eyes.

"Alas, be quiet, noble elf, and sit down", was Aelin's answer.

"I would like to ask for a favour, if I may bother you with my humble wishes, curious highness", she added teasingly.

"Anything you wish, Aelin from the land of Namâree" Legolas answered, trying to add a royal accent to his words. And after a small pause he continued "but of course I would want … something… in return for that favour".

Aelin felt this special sizzle again… the energy was rising, as it always did when they were together for a while. Could it be the playful conversation was turning into something else, just now at this place, at this moment? She really did not know what made her lips form the words she answered at last.

"Anything yish,ish, Legolas Greenleaf"… she whispered.

Now there was a longer pause before he answered.

"Anything, LadyAelin… anything?"

This time there was a low tone in his voice. His words, though a question, sounded like a promise.

He was now very close to her, she almost feared that he would eventually hear her heart beating faster as he raised his hand to touch her cheek.

"Anything…." she whispered again.

The next thing she felt were his fingertips, exploring the tender skin of her neck. Aelin closed her eyes and slightly parted her lips, a tiny sigh escaping from them. She could hear herself breathing out his name, and Legolas caught her breath with his lips, brushing them lightly against hers.

What a sweet torment it was for both of them, when they finally parted. They were breathing heavily, and for what seemed an eternity to Legolas and Aelin, was only a second of reality, before he took her in his arms and kissed her again.

This time it was more intense… deeper, full of desire. They forgot everything ar, th, the just felt each other. As their tongues met, she intertwined her fingers with long strands of his blonde hair. Again she whispered his name. She felt herself pressing her body against his tall and lean figure, almost drowning in the heat that had risen… not to burn them, but to lead them into one more passionate encounter of their lips.

Then, slowly Legolas ended the kiss… he did not want to, but he had to, because he was not sure if he could stop at all if this wonderful sweetness lasted just a few more seconds. The passion he felt still coloured his eyes dark, but he just held her close and gently stroked her hair.

After a while he locked his eyes with hers and spoke: "This was a promise, Aelin… " and almost whispering he added "…you will be mine". He touched her lips softly with his fingertips. They were slightly swollen from the kisses she had shared with him.

Since Aelin did not answer, he almost regretted his words. They were a surprise to him as well… it seemed as if his inner voice had gained the upper hand and was acting independently. Carefully he studied her features but did not find any sign of regret in them. No, the moon's silvery light revealed a dreamy smile on her lips and also in her eyes. He sighed to himself in relief.

Aelin was shaken deeply. She had been kissed before. But never in any moment her life she had felt like her inner core was being touched. But she had felt it now. Just a few moments before… with Legolas. And she knew, her feelings never betrayed her… ever.

Legolas smiled inwardly. The kisses obviously have a similar effect on Aelin, he thought. For she just looked the way he felt. After a few more moments in silence, he decided that maybe the best thing to do now was to bring their light and playful tone back.

"Very well now, Lady Aelin… I had a part of my reward for the favour already. You may now tell me what I can do for you… and then we shall see what will be the second part of the total due " he said and chuckled lightly, still hugging her.

With a happy smile she snuggled against his shoulder and whispered in his ear: "I need to find a place of craft for my Beltaine ritual. I thought that maybe you know about a proper place out there in the forest… and now would you, noble elf prince guide this lady back to the halls?"

~You should really tickle his cute earlobe with your tongue next time you are close to him~ Aelin's inner voice stated. And this was one of the few times, she agreed with it. Yes, I will do that, she thought.


TBC


Okay.. I left out the part about their fate this time… I just felt like it would be a good time to let them kiss each other… but Ch. 5 will most definitely have more explanations. And yep.. it's going to get steamy soon, that means no more Rating G, but tending to Rating NC-17. I hope that does not bother you! *g*

(*) Lasto, Legolas, nîn ion… = Listen, Legolas, my son… [yeah, I know that this is not something fancy… but I'm not that good at Sindarin… so sue me! *LOL*]
(**) gwirith = April (month)