Queen Naehlara (LOTR, Legolas love story)

Chapter 6

Naehlara checks over her items one more time. Dressed in traveling gear, Arwen had gifted her. The green matches her eyes and the gold elvish markings stitched into the trimming. She debated leaving her crown but she knew better. Aragorn, Lord Elrond, Arwen or Lindir would have stopped her and forced her to go back for it. Slipping it onto her head, she questioned if she had time to braid her hair, that currently laid freely flowing down her back. Grabbing her sword she tightens the sheath to her hip, her two long daggers strapped to her back. Grabbing her pack with lembas bread and a sleeping roll. Looking in her mirror one more time, she adjusts the crown.

Exiting her chambers, she notice Legolas' chamber doors open. Walking over she peaks in, not seeing him. Knocking on his door as she slowly takes a step into the room. "Legolas?" Hearing a noise from the bathroom, she pauses realizing how intrusive she is being just walking into his chambers. Stepping out of the bathroom his hair is half braided and his cheeks flushed.

"Can I help you, your Highness?" Legolas asks, looking over her attire. He notes she seems more comfortable in a tunic and trousers, more comfortable than he's ever seen her when in a dress.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted you. I was just checking if you were ready." She apologizes. Looking around the room it's the same as hers though unlike hers it is completely undecorated.

"I was finishing my braid when you came. I'll be ready in a few minutes." He says, "If you want to wait a moment, we can go down together."

"Let me braid your hair, it'll be quicker than you doing it yourself." She says, walking farther into the room. Legolas pauses for a moment, it's been a long time since someone else has braided his hair. The last he remembered being his mother, and from there he learned to do it himself, braiding his hair the same style she loved to do his in.

He nodded his head, taking a seat on the bed. Naehlara joining him sitting behind him, Legolas directing her what section of hair to take at the back of his head and the style of the braid. She was quick, the fishtail braid being done in no less than a minute. Standing up she looks down to Legolas, a sedated calm smile on his face. "Thank you, Naehlara." He says, grabbing his bow and standing up. Sliding it over his back with his dual swords and sheathing his spare sword to his hip. "Let us go and hope we aren't the last down there." Legolas says, taking her hand and walking with her down to the stone archway to exit Imiladris.

They were in fact not the last ones there, the hobbits were. Well Merry and Pippin were. Frodo, Sam and Gandalf were the first ones to make it to the archway followed by Boromir, Aragorn and then the two elves. Naehlara stayed by Legolas' side while Lord Elrond, Arwen and a group of elves came to the arch way to bid them farewell.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further that you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you." Elrond says, looking over the group. Putting a hand to his chest in farewell, Legolas, Aragorn and Naehlara do the same.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf says, the group turning to Frodo. He looks to each of them, uneasily. Would they be successful in this quest or were they all going to die? Frodo couldn't stop his questioning, making eye contact with Gandalf, he nods his head edging him to go forward towards the archway to leave Rivendell.

The group follows Frodo, Gandalf and Boromir together behind him, than Gimli. Merry and Pippin in the middle of the group with Sam who's leading Bill, the pony, and Naehlara and Legolas at the back. Aragorn stayed back for a moment looking towards Arwen, memorizing her face, it was the last time he was going to see her before she sailed to the Grey Havens. Naehlara stops noticing Aragorn behind them and watches as he grabs the necklace around his neck, turning and following the group. Following where Aragorn had been looking, she see Arwen watching them leave, looking heartbroken.