Title: Finding Love
Rating: M/NC-17 (in part 2)
Author's Note: This fic is written the way it is for two reasons. 1. To keep it as much as possible in-line with the Tolkeinish style of the original story. 2. As a challenge to myself in the older writing styles that have fallen into disuse. My betas said that it made the story flow better, for those who were familiar with the originals. :-)

Updated Author's Note: This story was written originally while the LOTR films were coming out; ergo, it's over a decade old. But the recent movies are motivating me to add to the series, so I'm posting the earlier stories as well so that everyone has the frame of reference. This story was not originally in two parts. I have split it so that those who would like the story without the smut can read part 1 in peace.

She sat on the balcony, gazing up at the stars. The moonlight shone on her pale blonde hair and cream-pale skin, giving her more of a glow than most elves usually possessed. She was lost in her admiration of the beauty all around her, so she did not notice that she had a watcher.

He stood in the shadows near the balcony doors, admiring the beauty in front of him. The moon highlighted her hair in silver and the stars reflected in her eyes as she gazed at the heavens. Legolas swore that he'd never seen a lovelier sight in all of his long life.

When he'd met her, some decades ago, she'd seemed to him to be a lovely child. While not technically a child, she had been somewhat naïve because of her unusual upbringing. She'd been orphaned when very young - a band of orcs had taken her parents from her, but the child had managed to hide. She had been raised by a human family, though she'd outlived several generations of them by the time she went her own way.

The last few decades had seen her grow and change into the elegant Elven lady who sat before him now. She'd always had an air of grace around her, but now her confidence and her manner complimented that grace. And somewhere along the line, he'd fallen for her.

She had been quite worried when he failed to return from the meeting that had started the Fellowship. Upon his return, she had told him that she had prayed for his safety and that of his companions. How she'd known, he had no idea. But he had been grateful and she, in her uncanny way, had known that as well.

Emerging from his thoughts, he smiled when he noticed that she'd picked up a night-blooming flower from somewhere. He silently moved closer until he stood by her side, taking the star-flower gently from her hand and slipping it into her hair. "Lovely evening, my Lady," he said very softly.

She turned her head and looked up at him with a soft smile. "Lovely indeed, and more pleasant now than but a moment ago."

He returned her smile and bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement. He had known that she was attracted to him for some time, but had refused to take advantage of that fact. He had no problems at all in receiving the attentions of women, and even a few men, but she was different somehow.

"Will you walk with me, Linilya?" Her name rolled pleasantly off his tongue and he gave her a gentle smile and a fraction of a bow.

"I should like that very much," she replied in a gentle voice. She offered him another smile as she rose to her feet. Legolas had always been gentle and courteous with her, ever since they had met. She knew that she loved him, and she knew that he also knew it. But he was ever the gentle elf, courteous and mannerly. But still, she treasured what time he would spend with her and never asked for anything beyond his friendship.

The one thing about which she still lacked confidence, or perhaps awareness, was her own attractiveness, he mused. Indeed, she was hardly aware that she had several admirers who would have given anything if only she would turn those lovely eyes to them rather than him.

He offered his arm as they walked, and she gently curled her hand around his arm. They traded casual pleasantries as they went, following a winding path down from the balconies, through the untamed forest area, and along the path that led past the waterfalls.

When they arrived at the small clearing where the path reached out to run as near as possible to the cascade of water, they paused. Ever enchanted by the view, she stepped away from him and to the rail, meaning to stretch out slender fingertips and let the water play over them.

They stood beside the waterfall in silence, she at the rail and he just behind her. Droplets of water misted her long hair and her gown, glowing with reflected light. Then, as if spellbound by her, he drew her closer and wove his fingers into her hair, cradling her cheek in his palm. Giving voice to his thoughts, he whispered into her delicately pointed ear, "I know I should not do this... but I cannot help myself. I love you, my little one." For so he had called her, ever since he had found her, travelling alone so long ago. With that said, he bent his head and caught her lips in a soft kiss.

Her eyes widened at his words, then fluttered closed when his lips met hers. She lifted her arms to wrap lightly around his neck as she returned his gentle kiss. When he drew back he was surprised, though not overly so, to see a smile on her lips and joy dancing in her eyes. He returned her smile, and his smile grew when he heard her say, ever so softly, "And I love you, my gentle one."

His free arm wrapped around her waist, cradling her slim form against his. She leaned lightly into his embrace; it was an innocent enough move, born of a desire to be close to him, but her nearness sent his senses whirling. He wanted her nearly as much as he loved her. But though he knew that she was not naïve enough to be ignorant of what occurred between men and women, she was just innocent enough to not realize that her simple shift closer to him would inflame him in such a way. Gently, carefully, he disengaged himself from her. He meant never to hurt her or start something that he ought not to.

She let out a soft murmur of distress at his withdrawal and turned away from him, closing her eyes. Her hands curled around the railing along the cliff side and her head bowed. She didn't know what was going through his mind, only that he had pushed her away. And it hurt, considering the words of love they had exchanged. With her back turned, she missed the expression of regret on his face and was startled when he came up behind her and wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. She stiffened and then began to struggle slightly. "Legolas... please." Her voice was soft, but still managed to convey only a touch of the hurt and confusion she felt. "You do not have to do this..."

He understood what she was feeling, even if she did not. So he held her gently to him again and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I wish to be close to you, my Lina. But I mean not to make you feel pressured or in any way unsafe. I would wish to court you, but I would not press my desires upon you. Because I care about you, and I wish you to be happy."

She turned her head to look at him, and saw the truth of his words reflected in his eyes. She relaxed against him and made no attempt to move otherwise, simply allowing him to remain as close as he chose. "But I would also wish for you to be happy," she told him in her soft, sweet voice. "I will gladly allow your courtship if that is your wish, but I have no need of it. I would bind myself to you with or without it."

He loosened his grasp on her, and she turned in his arms to face him. She lifted her chin to look up into his eyes and smiled softly. His eyes searched hers, finding nothing in them but love and trust and joy. A smile spread slowly across his features, kindling a fire of love in his eyes. The one thing in his eyes that was, for the most part, lacking in hers was a bright edge of desire. She had never known that kind of fire, so the feelings lay dormant within her. But something in his eyes attracted her attention and made her heart pound in a way that nothing ever had before.

His gaze lowered to her lips as she ran her tongue over them lightly. It was a reflexive action on her part, but it caught his attention. He licked his own lips slowly and saw her watching him. With a smile, he kissed her again. This kiss began gentle, as before, but deepened as her lips parted and he tasted her for the first time. Tentatively, her tongue moved to touch his and he encouraged her in her exploration.

When they finally broke for air, she looked up into his eyes. The fire that they contained still smoldered, and she shivered delicately at the feelings it provoked in her.

His gaze softened as he took in the dazed look in her eyes. He knew that she had no experience with desire and he did not wish to press her too hard. But when he would have pulled back, her arms tightened around his neck and she refused to let go. "No, Legolas... do not leave me, please! I want to stay with you, to be with you..."

His heart soared at the same time that his conscience chided him for moving too quickly with her. He cradled her face in his hands, locking his gaze on hers. "Do you know what you ask, my little one?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes. I am not afraid, Legolas. I have no reason to be. I am with you."

He studied her eyes a moment longer then broke into a smile. He swept her into his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her swiftly away from the waterfalls and back to his home. He paused on the balcony and set her onto her feet gently, then asked once more, "Are you sure? You know this is," he paused for a moment, searching for the right word, "unconventional. Tradition would dictate that we wait..."

"I am sure, meleth-nin," she answered with a smile. Her concept of fidelity was part of her Elvish nature, but her unusual upbringing affected her attitudes as well. They were meant for each other and she did not need a ceremony to affirm it. He nodded and returned her smile, then opened the doors with a flourish. She giggled softly as he swept her up into his arms again and carried her inside.

Elvish Glossary
'meleth-nin' / 'mîl-nin ' = my love