An arranged marriage could solve everything: Legolas' post-war melancholy, Lasriel's dream of freedom and a family, her mother's exile, King Thranduil's dark secret. But turning childhood friendship into love is not as easy as they thought - and nei...
~Lasriel and Legolas try to process what they just found out and talk things through.~
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~♕~
"Those that suffer a loss require support from friends and loved ones."
– Baymax, Big Hero 6
~♕~
36. Night
The journey home was a quiet affair. Despite her effort not to, Lasriel kept thinking about what they discovered on the island. It had been bad enough to believe her father's infidelity was only a one-time occurrence, but this? It was obvious he lived in that house with Mithrellas and had continued his shameful relationship all these centuries.
She wanted to be angry at him for that, to hate him, and to be glad she wouldn't have to see him ever again – but she was only disappointed. He had seemed so happy to meet her and so excited when she asked questions about the heated floor... It made her sad to think of how much she had lost when he chose his mistress over his family; how different everything would have been if he was still a part of it. She would have had a person in her life who shared her love in fixing things... She could picture herself showing him around in her house and seeing his genuine interest when she explained all the improvements.
It felt like she had been deprived of something she never even had.
The first night on the road she had a hard time falling asleep. Beside her, Legolas was tossing and turning in his bedroll as well, and after a while he gave up and left the tent on silent feet.
She waited for him to return but when he was still not back after an hour or so she followed his example.
He sat on the river bank with his knees drawn up, resting his chin against them as he gazed at the water. A sprinkle of stars were reflected in its dark surface.
Sitting beside him, she snuggled in under his cloak. "Hello, meleth."
He smiled and put an arm around her, pulling her close. "Hello there."
It felt good just being together in silence, listening to the many sounds of the night. Small splashes of fish in the water, crickets singing in the grass, an owl hooting somewhere in the distance.
After a while, Legolas broke the silence: "You know... I have been thinking. Now that there is no longer any need to give my adar an heir – what if we sailed to Aman at once? We would get away from all the troubles in Middle-earth and have a peaceful time."
Lasriel thought about it before replying. She recalled the distant horizon she had seen from the ferry and the alluring cry of the seagulls. In a way, it sounded wonderful. To walk into the white city of fair Tirion and see the trees of Tol Eressëa. To meet all the famous elves of the past.
