The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 15: A Short Rest

Chapter 15: A Short Rest

I blinked rapidly from the warm rays of sunlight that leaked through the canopy of leaves far overhead and lit the valley with a golden light. I smiled at the corner of my mouth and groaned as I sat up and lifted my hands into the air as I worked out the kinks in my back, Gimli and the hobbits were still fast asleep, snoring gently.

I looked around the small meadow for Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir but they were no where to be found, or at least they were no where near where the camp had been set. I hummed and stood up slowly and ran my fingers through my shimmering golden hair before walking off through the forest.

"You've slept late." A voice came from around a tree causing me to jump and reach for where my daggers would have been out of habit, but they were back at camp. Haldir strode out from behind the tree, smiling brightly at me, I scolded herself for reaching for her weapons.

"I guess I have," I smiled at the corner of my mouth and took in a deep breath of the cool autumn air that flowed through the trees. Haldir threw one side of his cloak over his shoulder and walked up beside me, "It's the first good sleep I've had since we left Rivendell," I said softly.

Haldir sighed, "You could stay.. If you wanted." My gaze shot over to him, his brown eyes looked straight into mine, she smiled warmly. "I have to stay with my companions." I said softly and turned my gaze back to the lush valley that was laid out in front of me.

"I understand that." Haldir said kindly and began to walk off, "Thank you for the offer," I called to him, he turned slightly to look over his shoulder at me, I had moved slightly closer to him. Haldir nodded, smiled, and turned back to walk up the stairs to the flets above.

I walked in silence through the forest, in deep thought about what had occurred up to this point and what was laid out in front of me. The only noise was the soft sound of the dying leaves blowing around in the wind and falling around her, soft voices echoed down from a flet above my head.

I raised an eyebrow and looked up to see Aragorn and Boromir talking in hushed tones most likely about which route to take, Boromir wanted to go to Gondor and that was very obvious. 

I rolled her eyes and continued walking through the forest until I came to a bubbling creek and decided to stop and turn around, but as I began to turn a smile curled from the corner of my mouth and I turned back towards the creek slowly and pulled off my boots. I slipped my feet in the frigid water and shivered from the shock of cold that shot up my spine.

"That's not cold?" A voice came from behind me, I  gasped and spun around quickly and as I did so lost my balance and collapsed into the water.

A loud laugh came from in front of me as I shook the water off her, Legolas was beaming down at me. I scoffed and rubbed my forehead, "Here," Legolas held out a hand, I smiled at the corner of my mouth as I wrapped my hand around his and pulled him into the freezing water, face first.

Legolas gasped as the air shot out of his lungs and shot a glare over to me, I was trying to keep her laughter stifled and just snorts escaped out of my nose. "Really?" Legolas grumbled as he tried to keep from showing his amusement. 

I smiled and shrugged, "You laughed at me!" I accused as I struggled to stand up, "We aren't children!" Legolas laughed as he stood up and threw himself down on the soft grass, basking in the warm sun, his blonde hair shimmered in the light.

I rolled my eyes and plopped down beside him, shivering as a cool breeze ran through the valley. 

We laid there in silence for some time as we tried to warm up, "Where will we head next?" I finally asked, Legolas looked down at me, his eyes burning into mine. "I'm not sure, Aragorn is wanting to take the Anduin south.. which is most likely what we will do, but after that..." His voice trailed off and he turned his head to look back up at the orange leaves overhead.

"Orcs hold the eastern shore of the Anduin," I said softly as if the evil of Mordor was watching me and evil surrounded her even now. "This is true," Legolas responded quickly, "Aragorn knows that." He said and turned his gaze back to me, my eyebrows furrowed with worry. 

I sighed and sat up, letting my hair cascade down my back in soft waves. Legolas flicked one of the strands softly causing me to look down at him, a few strands of blonde hair dripped messily onto his forehead.

I hummed nervously and grabbed my boots, slipping them on quickly. "We've been here long enough," I straightened my shirt and offered Legolas a hand, he smiled wickedly up at me and grabbed it quickly, yanking me down onto him.

I grumbled something under my breath in elvish and fumbled as I tried to roll off him, Legolas chuckled as I rolled over beside him. "And you call me childish," I said quickly as I cupped my face trying to hid the my pink cheeks.

"I have missed you in Mirkwood," Legolas's expression turned more serious, I raised an eyebrow. "I never heard anything from you," He sighed as he sat up and pulled at the green grass, "I got involved with things.. I just.." My voice trailed off as I silently scolded myself for forgetting. "I understand, but still..." His eyes looked into mine, a pain quickly crossed them. 

"I'm sorry," I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair, "Why did you never visit?" Legolas asked quietly, "You know I couldn't." I said as I bit my lip, "I could've talked to him Anairë." Legolas responded quickly, "You knew that." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"You know he never wanted me there, my leaving was a blessing.." My voice trailed off, "To him and you." I sighed and pushed back the emotions as I stood back up.

"I- uh." I cleared my throat and frowned, "I need to get back." I said quickly and trotted away from the creek and back up the hill towards the meadow the camp was in.

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