Another Life

Chapter 26 - Celebration

“Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!”

“Hail!” I called, along with the others, standing arm-to-arm beside Legolas, Gimli on his other side. I hesitated, staring into the drink, before I gave up and drank it. One drink wasn't going to harm me much.

The hall was crowded, literally packed with men, women and children, wounded and well, almost all the survivors of Helm's Deep, or the family of those, and outside there were more. When I'd passed the doors to the hall I'd seen other buildings with swarms of people. Tonight, everyone was celebrating. Food was passed around freely, a feast's worth, great barrels of ale and beer opened or stacked ready. To my amusement, Legolas was back in his fine silver tunic, and Gimli appeared to have combed his beard. Or attempted to.

Boromir grinned at me, tension long gone, before he'd slipped off with his mug of ale in one hand and a pretty red head in the other, heading straight for where a group of people had started playing music. More mugs were passed around, drink flowing freely, people dancing, drinking, laughing.

A kid slid under his mother's arm and headed straight for Legolas. “Is it true you live in trees?”

“Come back here!” The mother grasped for him, embarrassed, the boy sidestepping her.

Actually, I liked the question, and Legolas didn't seem insulted. As Gimli moved away, Legolas knelt down until he was at the boy's height. “We live in Hall, much as your kin do, but both underground and in trees.”

The boy seemed impressed. His mother didn't. She dragged him away, Legolas standing, turning to me. He grasped my hand, lifting it to kiss it, advancing closer on me.

“Underground?” I asked, as he advanced to me, suddenly painfully aware that he wasn't hiding his affection, that people were looking, and suddenly I felt really embarrassed too. Okay. He was only holding my hand. Only kissed it. I smiled weakly, one of his arms around my waist, trying, “Don't you miss the sky?”

“We do not spend all our time in the Halls.” Legolas ignored the stares, ignored everyone, I found him moving with me, dancing, just a slow movement. “Do not be ashamed of us.”

“I'm not ashamed.” I muttered. I was still painfully aware of the attention though. Aragorn, Gimli, even Boromir, I could handle. Pippin and Merry, I knew they'd laugh, but I liked them. This entire Hall full of people. Hundreds of people. I felt totally self-concious all of a sudden and wanted to go hide in some quiet place. Afraid that they'd be judging me. Making fun of me. Saying stuff like 'She's too fat/human.'

How hard would it be when I was with his own people in Mirkwood?

Legolas bent down, brushing my hair aside, kissing my shoulder, before releasing me. “I do not live in the Hall of my father. I live near it. It is much like Rivendel, in some ways, with the sky open to the great doors of the Hall. You will see.”

“On your own?”

He shook his head, hand still clasping mine, as we turned to watch the others. “With my brother and sister. When you come, you will live with us.”

I nodded, finding myself standing closer to him despite my nerves, the growing reality of this relationship starting to really dawn on me. Some part of me was starting to long for a casual thing. Starting to feel the culture shock. I longed to hide in Gondor suddenly. I suspected it'd be easier. “Legolas, you do know that your people might not accept me, right?”

He flinched, something passing across his face, but it was gone too fast before I could catch it. Legolas spoke, quietly, carefully, “I expect some may not. But I feel I do not need to worry for yo-”