Live Journal Feed
*Meleth Nín
Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him and Frode felt his heart pierce with the sudden keeness of the glance. ‘If I understand aright all that I have heard,’ he said, ‘I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.’” . . .
“‘But you won’t send him off alone surely, Master?’ cried Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner where he himself had been sitting quietly on the floor.
‘No indeed!’ said Elrond, turning towards him with a smile. ‘You at least shall go with him. It is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.’
Sam sat down, blushing and muttering. ‘A nice pickle we have landed ourselves in, Mr. Frodo!’ he said, shaking his head.”
Gandalf came to Frodo and put his hand on his shoulder.
“‘I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is yours to bear.’ Then Aragorn rose and knelt before Frodo. “‘If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.’”
Nimue heard Legolas rise and her heart was suddenly gripped in fear.
“‘And you have my bow.’”
Nimue felt as if her whole world was crashing down around her. She realized the direness of the situation. An elf can be killed in battle and from the scenario of the journey at least a hundred battles seemed to be in view for the ones setting out. Nimue was so distracted by her thoughts she did not hear Gimli, Gloin’s son say:
“‘And my ax!’” Boromir then walked up. “‘You carry the fates of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done.’” Suddenly two blond curly heads rushed past Nimue shouting:
“‘Wait! We are coming too!’” It was Frodo’s two other companions Meriadoc and Peregrin.
“‘You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!’” said Merry.
“‘Anyway,’” put forth Pippin, “‘you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission . . quest . . thing.
Merry turned to his friend, “‘Well that rules you out Pip.’”
Elrond then declared: “‘Nine companions... So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!’”
“‘Great!’” said Pippin, “‘Where are we going?’”
Nimue had run to her room right after Pippin and Merry rushed past her. She threw herself on her bed and began to cry.
*~*~*~*~*
Legolas strode out of the council, his spirits rose at the thought of the adventurous excursion that lay ahead of him now. Word would have to be sent back to his father of the change of plans, but Legolas would think about that later. The dinner bell broke into his thoughts and he followed the group into the dining hall.
Evening soon fell and after dinner Legolas went for a stroll in the gardens. Nimue was there also. She was sitting on a bench of stone under a young weeping willow. She was fingering the blooms of a group of Larkspur growing beside the bench.
“Suilad, hir nin,” she said quietly, not looking up.
“Suilad, Nimue,” Legolas replied absently, his head still in the clouds of combat glorious.
The Prince of Mirkwood went to move on to the other parts of the garden when the sound of running feet behind him made him stop.
“Legolas!” It was Nimue.
Suddenly he felt a pair of lithe arms encircle his waist. “Please, hir nin . .” Nimue pleaded in a quavery voice.
The Elven prince turned around. “No, no, you had called me Legolas only a moment before, please don’t stop now!”
Nimue’s grip loosened, but Legolas caught her hands before she dropped them. Nimue’s head was lowered. Legolas put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up so he could see it. He was surprised to find it streaked with tears.
“Nimue . .” He had been so preoccupied in his thoughts of the journey ahead that he did not realize that she had been crying before. He felt like kicking himself.
“Why the tears?” he then asked gently while wiping them away with his thumb.
“I- I heard that-” Nimue’s form was once again racked with sobs. She buried her face in his tunic.
“Oh, Legolas! Please don’t go!” she cried.
Nimue’s plea pierced Legolas’ heart like an elven arrow and touched his soul like nothing else ever had.
Legolas saw another salty tear escape from her eyes. He leaned down and kissed it off her cheek. Then he saw a tear had landed on her lower lip. He lifted a finger and slowly brushed it off. Legolas then tilted his head down, and began lowering his lips to hers.
Suddenly Nimue broke away from him before any contact was made and ran up the garden steps and back inside. It was all so sudden and Legolas, still being in a daze from what just happened, didn’t react as quickly as he normally would. He just stood there, looking after her.
That night Legolas was in his room preparing for the journey. After the departing of the Fellowship, Nimue was to send the message to his father of his decision, escorted by two of Lord Elrond’s finest warriors.
Legolas’ sensitive ears picked up the light step of a elf-maiden coming down the corridor toward his room. There was a knock on his door.
“Come in.”
The maiden slowly opened the door. It was Nimue.
She stood there at the doorway gazing at him.
“Mar gwannathach?” she asked. (when will you leave?)
“At dawn,” he answered, not looking up.
“Legolas . .”
Legolas stopped putting his arrows in his quiver and looked up at her.
Her red hair was loose upon her shoulders and was wearing a long green gown. He gazed at this brave and skilled warrior, whom he was grateful to have by his side on the journey to Imladris. Now, on top of his admiration and care for her she was truly beautiful and one of a kind.
That was it. He couldn’t control himself any longer. In two strides he was by her side and in the next second he was kissing her. Kissing her with a passion he had never felt before toward any Elven maiden.
“Hir nin,” she said in a small voice when they parted slightly. “I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t come back . . I love you, Legolas.”
Legolas felt such intense joy from her declaration that it almost scared him. “And I love you Nimue.”
He lowered his mouth to hers again. Nimue could feel his heart racing against her chest, and Legolas could feel hers beating just as hard, if not harder.
Nimue found his lips to be sweet and warm. Her hands traveled up his arms and entangled themselves in his hair.
Then Legolas’ lips traveled along her jaw line and down her neck. Nimue sighed, fanning Legolas’ flame. Nimue tilted her head to the side to allow him more room while he was kissing her neck. Then Legolas moved back up and kissed her lips again.
Nimue suddenly felt herself being lifted up and carried then suddenly let down on something soft. She opened her eyes to find that she was on Legolas’ bed. Legolas gingerly lowered himself on top of her and proceeded to kiss her again.
Nimue wrapped her arms around his neck holding him to her. Then she felt his hands move to the lacings of her gown. She stiffened a little.
“Wait!” Nimue cried.
Legolas stopped and raised himself up.
“What?” he asked.
“We must get married first, Legolas.”
Legolas looked at her for a moment. “You are right . .” he said. “It would be dishonorable of me to do so out of wedlock and it would be disgracing you. I would never want that to happen!”
Nimue sat up and was about to leave when Legolas caught her arm.
“But-” he said “could you at least sleep by my side for tonight . . please.”
Nimue looked at the handsome Prince’s face, seeing the sorrowful countanance mixed with love, and feeling the own longing in her heart, she agreed.
They fell asleep, fully clothed, and in each others arms. Both wearing a smile.
The next morning Legolas awoke to find Nimue’s sleeping form huddled under his arm which was wrapped around her. He hugged her to him and kissed her forehead. Nimue opened her eyes. Legolas grinned, he thought it was cute how she slept with her eyes closed.
“Nimue . .” he whispered, nipping her lips. “How long have you loved me?”
“Ever since you saw me in the garden back at Mirkwood. But I did not realize it until I found out you were going on the journey with the Ringbearer.”
“I love you so much!” he said, barely managing a whisper, for he wanted to shout it.
Suddenly a servant knocked on the door.
“It is time to depart, Prince Legolas.”
“Hannaid. Blast it! I’m late!”
Legolas turned his face back to Nimue’s whose eyes traveled over his features as if she was trying to memorize every line, every curve. Legolas found himself doing the same as he gazed back at Nimue.
“Don’t you have to get ready?” Nimue said after a moment.
“What? . . Oh! Right!” Legolas forced himself to break eye-contact and leap out of bed to pull his things together.
“Tolo,” he beckoned to Nimue once he was ready, “walk with me to the front gate.” (come)
At the front gate stood Elrond, Bilbo and the rest of the company.
“Lord Aragorn,” Nimue said to the ranger, with a cursty. “I do not believe we have been introduced before. I am Nimue Elenath, Swordmistress of Mirkwood, daugher of Eohric, former Swordmaster of Mirkwood.”
“I am honored to meet you, Nimue,” Aragorn said taking her hand and bowing over it. Then with a grin he turned to Legolas, “I take it she came with you.”
“Yes.” Legolas replied. Then he read the knowing expression on Aragorn’s face and grinned.
Soon Lord Elrond bid them on their way with his blessing. Before Legolas followed the rest of the group who walked toward the gate, he took Nimue in his arms and kissed her hard. He prayed that this would not be the last time. Nimue made the same prayer. Legolas cradled her face in his hands and gazed at her. Nimue could see the tears forming in his eyes.
“I will return to you, gweston!” Then with one last kiss he said “navaer.” (I swear; farewell)
Nimue willed herself to remain strong and not let the tears fall that pricked her eyes as she watched the company go.
“Be cautious, meleth nin,” Nimue whispered.
*REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEWWWW!*
