A/N: Not mine.
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Something to Hope For
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The others had all gone to sleep. Legolas volunteered to take the first watch during the night. He did not need much sleep as his elven body gave him endurance and strength surpassing his companions. As the Fellowship slept, some fitfully and others soundlessly, Legolas walked about, but never straying far from the other eight. He cleared his mind and sang a simple tune underneath the light of the bright stars.
After some time, Legolas allowed himself the luxury of thinking of her. His mind raced back to his last encounter with Arwen Undomiel.
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It was gray outside for the sun itself refused to show her fair face. The air seemed thick with sorrow and uncertainty. The day had finally come: the Fellowship was departing from Imladris.
Legolas made his way over to where Arwen stood underneath the crisp canopy of trees, flanked by the twin stars-the beautiful children of Elrond. He said nothing, but loved her with his eyes. Legolas absorbed all he could with his senses, if only to remember her as he knew her in his waking life and not in his dreams. And, if only to remember Arwen, called Undomiel, for the days when he would no longer see her.
Legolas gingerly placed a hand over his heart, and he saw Arwen follow in turn. His hand brushed the smooth skin of her cheek, and the simple touch alighted the memory of her kiss from the night before.
He knew that the kiss was not an act of pity. However, he also knew that it was neither an act of unrequited love. Legolas knew that Arwen was not prepared to make a decision between himself or Aragorn, and Legolas did not want to put her in the position to make he choose.
And yet, Arwen did kiss him. It was so pure, so painfully honest and profound that Legolas still could not yet fully process it. He mused to himself that that single moment, which did not exist in the realm of time, was his alone to ponder throughout all of ages of the world. They shared a kiss. That, at least, meant she held some sort of affection towards him.
As the two elves faced one another, Arwen met his gaze and lowered her guard. "Perhaps, if things were not as they are," she trailed off, letting Legolas decipher the possibilities of her hidden meaning. "May the Valar keep you safe." Arwen continued sincerely. Legolas was touched by her open concern for the quest and the Fellowship itself. He bowed slightly before the children of Elrond, then took his leave of them and returned to his companions.
As Legolas stood amongst the ringbearer and his kin, Mithrandir, the men called Aragorn and Boromir, and the dwarf named Gimli, all he saw was her face. The words of Elrond seem to fade into nothing and a clouded haze seem to engulf everything surrounding him. Time ceased to exist as seconds stretched out for lifetimes upon leagues. Legolas saw Arwen struggle with her emotions, tears gathering upon her lids-but not falling. He marveled at her bravery and determination to remain strong. This was a gray day for all, but maybe even more so for Arwen, daughter of Elrond.
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"Perhaps, if things were not as they are."
Arwen's voice whispered in the swaying branches of the trees. He let the thought wash over him like waves upon a distant shore.
Suddenly, the sky opened up to him then, and a new light was cast over his eyes. Legolas was suspended from the physical world as he glimpsed into a different possibility...
Legolas saw Arwen descending from a dazzling hill and it seemed to him that her presence filled the whole world. She was smiling lovingly at him and she bore a great stone around her neck. They met in a deep embrace, and the ache of his heart melted away.
Then the sky was covered again, and Legolas was pulled back into himself. It was cold and dark again. A dreams or vision, little did it matter to the Prince of Mirkwood. It was something real for him. Tangible. Breathable. It was something to hope for.
------
Arwen woke suddenly from a dazzling dream of warm skies and lush hillsides. And of brilliant blue eyes. From her room in Imladris, her thoughts again strayed south.
------
Something to Hope For
------
The others had all gone to sleep. Legolas volunteered to take the first watch during the night. He did not need much sleep as his elven body gave him endurance and strength surpassing his companions. As the Fellowship slept, some fitfully and others soundlessly, Legolas walked about, but never straying far from the other eight. He cleared his mind and sang a simple tune underneath the light of the bright stars.
After some time, Legolas allowed himself the luxury of thinking of her. His mind raced back to his last encounter with Arwen Undomiel.
------
It was gray outside for the sun itself refused to show her fair face. The air seemed thick with sorrow and uncertainty. The day had finally come: the Fellowship was departing from Imladris.
Legolas made his way over to where Arwen stood underneath the crisp canopy of trees, flanked by the twin stars-the beautiful children of Elrond. He said nothing, but loved her with his eyes. Legolas absorbed all he could with his senses, if only to remember her as he knew her in his waking life and not in his dreams. And, if only to remember Arwen, called Undomiel, for the days when he would no longer see her.
Legolas gingerly placed a hand over his heart, and he saw Arwen follow in turn. His hand brushed the smooth skin of her cheek, and the simple touch alighted the memory of her kiss from the night before.
He knew that the kiss was not an act of pity. However, he also knew that it was neither an act of unrequited love. Legolas knew that Arwen was not prepared to make a decision between himself or Aragorn, and Legolas did not want to put her in the position to make he choose.
And yet, Arwen did kiss him. It was so pure, so painfully honest and profound that Legolas still could not yet fully process it. He mused to himself that that single moment, which did not exist in the realm of time, was his alone to ponder throughout all of ages of the world. They shared a kiss. That, at least, meant she held some sort of affection towards him.
As the two elves faced one another, Arwen met his gaze and lowered her guard. "Perhaps, if things were not as they are," she trailed off, letting Legolas decipher the possibilities of her hidden meaning. "May the Valar keep you safe." Arwen continued sincerely. Legolas was touched by her open concern for the quest and the Fellowship itself. He bowed slightly before the children of Elrond, then took his leave of them and returned to his companions.
As Legolas stood amongst the ringbearer and his kin, Mithrandir, the men called Aragorn and Boromir, and the dwarf named Gimli, all he saw was her face. The words of Elrond seem to fade into nothing and a clouded haze seem to engulf everything surrounding him. Time ceased to exist as seconds stretched out for lifetimes upon leagues. Legolas saw Arwen struggle with her emotions, tears gathering upon her lids-but not falling. He marveled at her bravery and determination to remain strong. This was a gray day for all, but maybe even more so for Arwen, daughter of Elrond.
------
"Perhaps, if things were not as they are."
Arwen's voice whispered in the swaying branches of the trees. He let the thought wash over him like waves upon a distant shore.
Suddenly, the sky opened up to him then, and a new light was cast over his eyes. Legolas was suspended from the physical world as he glimpsed into a different possibility...
Legolas saw Arwen descending from a dazzling hill and it seemed to him that her presence filled the whole world. She was smiling lovingly at him and she bore a great stone around her neck. They met in a deep embrace, and the ache of his heart melted away.
Then the sky was covered again, and Legolas was pulled back into himself. It was cold and dark again. A dreams or vision, little did it matter to the Prince of Mirkwood. It was something real for him. Tangible. Breathable. It was something to hope for.
------
Arwen woke suddenly from a dazzling dream of warm skies and lush hillsides. And of brilliant blue eyes. From her room in Imladris, her thoughts again strayed south.