One-shots/Short Stories

Legolas

A/N: Recently became obsessed with Lord of the Rings. . .😛

Understanding Aragorn and Arwen's Situation
Legolas walked away from the drinking game he had with Gimli and the other men with a smug smile, looking down at his hands curiously at the tingly feeling he was getting on his fingers.
   "An interesting game to watch, heruamin." a voice said to him near his ear. He turned to the side sharply, startled when he saw it was a woman that had spoken to him. A mortal woman. She had raven dark hair that went to her waist, her skin pale as a ghost, a red cloak over her tunic and pants. Something he didn't expect for a mortal woman to wear.

   "How do you know my language?" was all he uttered out to her. He was paralysed at the sight of her beauty. He's seen pretty maidens in his kingdom, but he was surprised when he noticed she was far prettier than them.
   "I found a book about your kind in the library before we left." she explained, pushing herself away from the pillar she was leaning on, moving closer to the elf. "Decided to read it every night. Still reading it actually."
   "Well, I must say you are doing well so far." he gave a small smile to her. "You pronounced heruamin perfectly."
   "Why thank you." she bowed her head with a grin. "My name's Talia."
   "Legolas." he gave her hand a chaste kiss on the knuckles. "I am curious as to why you are dressed in such an attire? It is something I've never seen a mortal woman wear."
   "I'm not the classic lady, aren't I?" she smirked. "You could say, I wasn't really raised like the other women around. I was the only daughter amongst four brothers and father, for my mother died after giving birth to me."
   "I am sorry to hear that." Legolas nodded sympathetically. "For I am actually in a similar situation to yours. My mother died after giving birth to me."
   "The things we have in common." she smiled gently at him, Legolas returning it.
   "Legolas!" The two turned to the person that called for the elf, realising it was Gimli who woke up after passing out from the amount of beer he drank in their contest. "Come 'ere you Mirkwood elf! I demand a rematch!"
   "Ah. . ." Legolas turned to Talia and gave an apologetic smile. "I must go. It seems my friend has had enough drinking."
   "Go." she nodded in understanding. "We'll see each other soon, I am sure."
   "Soon." he nodded, walking away from her. He turned back to her to reveal a shy smile. "Actually, if it isn't any problem. . ."
   "I'll meet you here tomorrow." Talia smiled. Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise, wondering how she knew what he was going to say.
   "See you tomorrow, Talia." he finally told her.

***

Days later. . .
They were making their way to Mordor, Legolas at the front with Aragon, Gimli, and Gandalf. He looked behind at the soldiers to see how they were doing when he noticed a particular soldier amongst them that had a red cloak over their head. "Talia." he breathed out in disbelief.
   "What was that, Legolas?" Aragorn asked from beside him. "Legolas? Legolas!" The elf had unexpectedly steered his horse to the soldiers, riding through them. The soldiers cried out in surprise, veering to the side to let the elf pass. The other three stared at each other in disbelief; Merry and Pippin asking them what was going on.
   Legolas paid no mind to them, coming to a stop in front of the person with the red cloak. Ignoring the stares, he snatched the reins out of Talia's hands, manoeuvring her horse beside his. He then reached up with his other hand to bring her hood down. The men around them gasped at the sight of a woman amongst them, almost heading to battle.
   "What do you think you are doing?" Legolas hissed. "Are you crazy?"
   "I told you," she sniffed, "I was raised amongst men. I know how to fight."
   "Does not mean you come to Mordor with us!" Legolas exclaimed. "You are to go back to the women and children now -"
   "No!" Talia refused. "I want to fight beside you and my people!"
   "Talia?" one of her brothers came to them. "Why in Valar are you here?"
   "Destiel, I know how to fight with a sword and bow and arrow, and I wish to be in battle amongst our men." Talia said honestly. Legolas bristled at her side. He did not like this at all. The days before, Legolas and Talia met up at the pub they first met in and spoke about everything which Legolas felt content in. He had grown to admire the woman's strength and personality, Talia feeling the same for Legolas.
   Just before he left for Mordor (thinking she was staying behind), Legolas had realised that he had come to fall in love with the mortal woman. He now understood the situation Aragorn and Arwen were in; with her being immortal, Aragorn not despite the fact he ages slower than the other mortals and all. Legolas did not like seeing a possible lover being in battle at his side.
   "Sister, you are walking towards death." her brother told her seriously. "You cannot be here."
   "Exactly." Legolas agreed.
   "Well too bad." Talia replied heatedly. "I am here already and there is no turning back. We must continue on to Mordor."
   "She's right." Gandalf came to them on Shadowfax. "There's no time to turn back. We must continue forth, for Frodo and Sam."
   Destiel huffed, riding away from them. "If you die in this, just know that I will forever live on with guilt." he told his little sister gravely. Gandalf followed Destiel soon after, leaving just Legolas and Talia.
   "Legolas -"
   "You have no idea how much pain and worry you are giving your brothers and I." Legolas closed his eyes tightly momentarily, taking calming breaths in. "But no matter. I do not control you. Just. . .be careful out there when we arrive. Please, don't die."
   Talia stared at him in the eyes, noticing the fear, desperation, and worry in his eyes. He truly cared for her. "I promise." she finally said. "As long as you don't die either."
   "So be it." Legolas nodded. "Come on," he made his horse walk back to the front, "we must make haste for Frodo."

***

Legolas looked around the battlefield, having successfully won against Sauron. He was now looking for Talia and so far, he couldn't find her which scared him.
   "Talia?" Legolas called out. "Talia!"
   "Legolas!" Destiel came to him with a worried look on his face. "Have you seen Talia?"
   "Nay, I am still looking for her." Legolas told him. They gave each other worried glances. "We must make haste, there's still time before we leave."
   Together, they searched for the girl, eventually being joined by the other three brothers. Soon Aragorn, Gimli, Gandalf, Merry and Pippin joined them.
   "Who are you looking for?" Merry asked them.
   "Talia, the girl." Legolas answered. He stared at them all. "Have you seen her?"
   "She's the one with the red cloak, yes?" Pippin asked. Merry whacked him behind the head.
   "Of course it is!" Merry exclaimed. "She was the only girl here!"
   "Have you seen her?" Destiel asked eagerly.
   "Last time I saw her, she was hanging around the entrance." Pippin answered. Without another word, Legolas made his way to the gates, calling for her.
   What he saw lifted his heavy heart. Talia was at the entrance, talking to some men. "Talia!" Legolas called. He hurried towards her, immediately bringing her into a hug. "You're alive! Oh, meleth, you're okay!"
   "Meleth?" Talia pulled away from him with furrowed brows. "You just called me your love."
   "Yes, I did." Legolas sighed, leaning his forehead against hers, eyes closed in relief at the sight of her being safe and okay. "Gi melethig."
   "Really?" Talia felt her heart warm up inside at his declaration.
   "Really." Legolas confirmed. "I don't care if you're mortal. I love you, and nothing is going to change that."

***

When the four brothers, two hobbits, wizard, dwarf and man finally reached them, they saw the two locked in an embrace, their arms wrapped around each other tightly.
   "I love you too." they heard Talia say to Legolas. Gimli's eyebrows raised in shock at the declaration of love.
   "Master elf loves a mortal?" he cried out in disbelief. "Never expected that!"
   "I did." Gandalf said wisely. "I saw how they'd meet up and talk with each other days before we left for Mordor. Legolas loves her, and she loves him."
   "But the thing is, now he's in the same situation as I am with Arwen." Aragorn spoke quietly. "He's immortal."
   "I have high hopes that the Valar will change that." Gandalf said cryptically. "Have faith, Master Strider."

The End

Translation:
Heruamin: My Prince
Meleth: My love
Gi melethig: You are my love