Upon Earth's Opening

Chapter 12 : Because I Love You

The next few days of Caen’s life were the happiest she had ever felt. During that time, she wanted nothing out of life but to spend the rest of her days at Legolas’ side. She spent her days with him and she spent her nights wishing he were there. She felt fulfilled, and for the first time in her life, she felt carefree. And she came to realize that around him, she was content with everything that life had given her. She no longer wanted to seek for more, and no longer needed the lust that danger created for her. And so as she spent her time with Legolas, the Rivendell public would look on, smile, and raise their eyebrows to each other, as if to say, “I told you so.”

Caen was soaking in her tub one chilly afternoon, smiling to herself as she thought about her morning. She and Legolas had been by the lake, laughing and bantering as they often did, when the rain had started. They started running to go inside, but Caen had tripped over a rock and fell face-first into the mud, and she took Legolas down with her. They rolled around getting their clothes filthy and laughing their heads off, when lightning cracked overhead. That was when they decided they should really get inside. But it ended up taking more time than would have been expected, because Legolas kept pulling her back against him and kissing her.

Caen sighed in contentment and sunk under the water level, where she held her breath for as long as she could. And when she rose again, it was to be met with a pair of silver-grey eyes staring at her. Caen jumped and exclaimed, “Arwen!”

“Good morning, dear sister.” Arwen looked smug; more content and self-fulfilled than she had ever looked before.

“You frightened me, what do you want?” Caen asked. She was surprised that her voice did not hold resentment at her sister butting in, just as she has done for centuries.

“I just came in her to say, I told you so,” Arwen grinned.

Caen decided that she was clean enough and so she rose and stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her body. She actually found herself blushing at Arwen’s statement.

“You told me so, what?” Caen asked, pretending to not know what Arwen was talking about.

“I told you that you and Legolas were perfect for each other,” Arwen replied smugly.

“No you didn’t,” Caen protested weakly. “But he is perfect, isn’t he?” she couldn’t help but add.

“You should listen to me more often,” Arwen said. “But right now, I must go and find Estel… he is waiting for me in the library,” she said coyly. And she walked over and kissed Caen on the cheek. Caen returned the gesture. “Be good, sister,” she said, and then walked out the door.

Caen felt confused as she watched the elf that she normally could not stand walk out the door. All her life she had been exasperated with Arwen’s doings and outlook on life. She was simply too lighthearted. Didn’t she know about all the evil in the world? Didn’t she know what was going on right in her own household? Didn’t she know that life was not as simple as it seems?

But as she watched the door close and the handle turn, Caen truly appreciated who her sister was. She was strong, beautiful, and most importantly: she was right. About everything, she was right.

“Go.”

“No.”

“Go.”

“No!”

“Legolas, seriously, I need to sleep!” Caen tried to push Legolas out the door, but he was stubbornly not moving.

“You do not, you’re an elf! Elves don’t sleep,” he persisted.

“This one does, you arrogant Prince. Now get out,” Caen pushed him out, but before he disappeared, he held her hand in his and kissed her fingers delicately.

“Then I bid you goodnight,” Legolas said in a formal manner, but his eyes presented a different, intimate look. He looked positively impish, as if he was planning something. “My lady,” he added. And as Caen closed the door and let out a long breath, she made up her mind: She was going to go and face her father tonight.

Legolas did not go to his room; he was not ready to retire for the night. He instead went outside to the lake, where he and Caen had been the other day when they had been caught in the rain. He stood on a dock and stared out into the dark waters, the moon casting her soft glow onto the water. He stood there for a moment and let the peace sink into him. Oh, this is what I live for, he thought, the simple pleasures. But why is this happening to me now, when I feel like I am going to my death in no time at all? I cannot die, I cannot die, I cannot die; there is too much to live for.

He strengthened his resolve; he would survive this war, and turned to return to his room and rest. He heard hoof beats and saw a figure riding into the forest, and curiosity overwhelmed him. Who would be out at this hour? They were not heading toward the border, but into the forest. He picked up speed and followed them.

He stayed far behind them, far enough not to be seen or heard. They were female, he could tell that much, and they looked a lot like… but no, she was asleep in her room.

They traveled in the dark and Legolas’ curiosity mounted with every step. Where was this person going?

Then to his absolute horror, they came to an encampment. The stench was overwhelming. Orcs, he thought with venom. He wanted to spit on the ground. They were foul creatures, hardly worthy of living. They showed no mercy to his people, and so he showed none to them. Legolas slipped a dagger out of his boot, for he always kept one in his boot, and approached the encampment.

He watched the figure dismount and enter a tent, so he skirted around the camp to the back of that tent. He listened intently.

“It’s about time that you got here,” a man said, sounding disgusted. “I’ve been waiting an entire WEEK for your report.”

There was a pause, then, “You will get no report,” the other replied. Legolas gasped. Caen! That is Caen! But… what are they talking about? What report? Legolas was dumbfounded. Was Caen a spy?

“What are you talking about, you miserable excuse of an elf?”

“You will get no report,” Caen repeated, sounding strong and persistent.

“For your entire life you have been loyal to my cause! For the cause of Lord Sauron. And now, in our most important cause, you back out? There is no returning! You’re past that point, daughter!”

Daughter? Legolas thought. That man is her father? Rage flowed through him. What kind of father speaks to his daughter like that?

But her Father did not stop at that. “And I suppose you’re going to tell me that you can’t fulfill your simplest mission yet? All you had to do was bed the Prince. Get some lousy information out of him and then kill him.”

Legolas froze. He was a mission. She was told to seduce him by her father? And that’s the only reason she ever… she ever…

But for Caen, that seemed to be the absolute last straw, for she yelled, “The only reason I ever, ever went along with this was because I knew I would die if I didn’t. I had a family then, I had a life, and you ruined it. I’ve put up with this for too long. You know what? I don’t care about you anymore. You taught me how to fight, how to kill without feeling, and I’ve done every little thing you’ve told me to, no matter how I felt, because I didn’t feel. I am better than you, and I am better than your cause, and I am through with this,” she said it with such force that even he was astonished, and then he heard her spit on the ground.

Her father roared and there was a loud smack and Caen cried out. Legolas couldn’t help it, he shook with rage. He raged because Caen had lied to him, and raged because Caen was being used and he could do nothing about it.

There was another thud sound and it sounded like this time, her father had knocked her out, for there was no cry of pain. Legolas heard him spit, and he then heard the man yell to someone who must have been outside the tent.

“Take my daughter and deposit her somewhere where she can die. She no longer deserves life,” Caen’s father hissed to the orc.

“Yes, my Lord,” the orc said in a cracked voice. And a few minutes later, he saw that two orcs were carrying an unconscious Caen away from the camp, talking together in their native language.

Legolas, confused and infuriated, followed the two orcs deep into the forest. They took her to Toad’s pond, where he and Caen had first encountered each other, and watched silently as they tossed her in the pond, gripping his knife as he readied himself to attack; he didn’t have much time. Right as they let go of her body, Legolas jumped up and stabbed the first orc in the neck. That one collapsed onto the ground, twitching and writhing until he stilled. The second orc was harder to kill, and it actually put up a momentary fight, but Legolas prevailed, feinting one direction and closing in to stab it through its head. He collapsed, too, and Legolas threw his knife aside and dove into the pond to get Caen.

She was motionless, and he brought her above water. He coughed as he inhaled water and swam to shore. He dragged her onto the earth and bent over her, fearing it was too late with every fiber of his being. If she died… no matter how hurt he was to learn of her lies, he loved her. He didn’t know why, but he loved her.

He put his mouth to hers and blew air into her lungs. He waited and took her hand in his, and squeezed it. He felt for a pulse in her wrist. There was a pulse! But it was faint. He lowered himself to blow air into her again, and again, and again, until… he felt her move her hand in his. Suddenly, she leaned over and coughed blood and water onto the ground. And then she relaxed, but soon fell into a coughing fit again. Legolas held her while she shook, and then, finally, she spoke.

“You followed me,” she croaked.

“Yes, I did,” he answered softly, stroking her wet hair and face.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I love you,” he answered sincerely. And then, as if in amazement, he repeated more quietly, “Because I love you.”