Consequences of the Heart

LEGEND / indicates telepathic speech / “indicates dialogue in Elven”/ (indicates translation of dialogue)/ ‘…’ thoughts/ ‘bold’ indicates memories or letters/ ‘bold’ for dreams


Buffy and Legolas’ Dream


The first sensation that Buffy became aware of was the warmth and scent of a familiar body lying with his arms around her. She felt the wave of comfort and happiness wash over her the way it always did when she was in his arms. She didn’t dare open her eyes afraid that he and this feeling would dissolve into the same despair she had sunk into when she first arrived. After all, last night had been the most magical night of her life.


She turned over in his arms and as she did she kept thinking, ‘I can’t believe I am married and to someone I have only known for a few weeks.’ But as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at his smiling face above her all doubt was banished.


“Good morning my wife,” Legolas said quietly as he gazed in reverence at the beautiful woman who had completely stolen his heart.


Buffy grinned back, “Good morning my husband. You know how good that sounds, Elf!”


Legolas laughed then hugged her tight and kissed her on the forehead. “I will be your Elf forever, my golden princess.”


“Hey I like the way you’re thinking there Elf, I am a princess now that we are married right?” She pushed away a little bit to look at him with her head cocked to one side.


“Yes, my love, you are Princess Buffy of the Mirkwood Realm and I have no doubt that you will cause chaos as soon as you arrive there. Ow!” He rubbed his ear where she had bitten it a bit more forcefully than she had intended.


“Is that any way to treat me on my first morning as your husband,” he pouted at her.


Buffy moved up against the many pillows pulling up the sheet with her. Legolas, sensing she wanted to talk moved alongside her.


As the sounds of Rivendell’s denizens beginning their day filtered through her consciousness , she looked around in deep thought at their bridal chamber, which Lord Elrond had secretly provided, after reassuring them that few knew about this room and they would not be disturbed.


She took in the white walls with the embossed green leaves and golden flowers, while more golden flowers had been strewn across the huge bed last night and their sweet scent now wafted from the floor at their feet where they had fallen. The remains of the fruit and wine that had been their supper stood on a lavishly decorated table near the window. The many candles had now burned out.


On the two ornate chairs in front of the fire lay their clothes, and she sighed as she remembered how she looked in the ice blue and gold embroidered gown with matching slippers. Then she dreamily sighed again as she remembered first seeing Legolas in his fine silver tunic and leggings.


“What could possibly cause you to sigh so, beloved? Are you not happy to be wed?” he asked hesitantly.


Buffy reached over and kissed him tenderly on the lips before gently stroking his cheek. “Oh Legolas if I was any happier I think I would burst, I was just remembering last night and how zero cool you looked in your wedding clothes. You looked like an angel the way you glowed.”


“Oh I see, well I thought you were so radiant that I know the moon was jealous that you were able to outshine her, I believed I was floating among the stars in heaven,” he replied in a breathless voice, his eyes fixed on her face in rapt adoration. Then a cloud passed over his face as he remembered what they had been talking about before.


“Then tell me, my love, what shadow hangs over your happiness, and if it is within my power I will banish it here and now. For I will allow nothing to spoil this precious time we have together.”


“It’s just bothering me that we got married in secret although I would still have married you no matter what the circumstances, and why didn’t you at least tell Aragorn. Isn’t he supposed to be your best friend? Legolas you know I have been in this position before with keeping important secrets from my friends and it only ends up hurting those you are trying to protect.” The last was said with a hint of sadness in her voice.


“Will you allow me to explain?” he replied softly then waited for her to nod before going on.


“It is really Aragorn that motivates me to secrecy. You know of course of the Lady Arwen who is daughter to Lord Elrond. Well, she and Aragorn are betrothed but her father will not allow him to marry her until Aragorn becomes King, a destiny that he has been running from for a long time. Like us, one is mortal and the other immortal. You remember I took great pains to explain the problems with this before we married, what it meant to our future together.”


“Yes I remember that you wouldn’t marry me until I finally convinced you that I understood and accepted what we were both letting ourselves in for,” Buffy replied softly. She searched her new husband’s face for any sign of regret, but saw nothing but his undying love for her.


“Well Arwen’s situation is slightly different from mine because she is half-elven where I am full elf. You see because of this she has the choice of being immortal or mortal. Do you recall I told you that elves could sail into the West to the Undying Lands before they die and be reunited with family and friends who have gone before?


That choice means leaving Middle-Earth forever. But she has already chosen the mortal life, which means that when her family sails into the West she will never see them, again. It will also force her to outlive Aragorn and probably any children they have. This means she will almost certainly die alone, sundered from all close family. Aragorn is torn because he does not wish to take Arwen from her people, even if that means she will be lost to him forever. He would rather lose her than condemn her to that solitary fate.”


He sighed, Buffy gave his hand an encouraging squeeze, so he continued, “And I fear how Aragorn will react when he knows that you and I have already made a similar choice. I do not think he will approve when he already believes he knows what heartache my choice may bring me later. Now you will be travelling with the Fellowship, if Aragorn realizes what we are to each other, then it would hurt him deeply to see us together when he is separated from his own love. So you see it is just my concern to protect my best friend from hurt. Still, I would not want to cause you any pain by this decision either. Would you do any less if you were in my position?”


In her mind Buffy couldn’t fault his reasoning, it showed yet again why she loved him so much, she took a calming breath, “No, but you can’t protect him forever or make his choices for him. In fact, given my previous history in love I can so relate, I may be able to help Aragorn see things more clearly. If he is your best friend I want to help and I could at least try giving him a female point of view. You know how persuasive I can be. Besides if this has been going on for some time then he is due to explode like a firecracker and that won’t be a nice scene, believe me I know.”


She suddenly smirked. “Hey I’ve always wanted a big brother can I adopt him or get him to adopt me, I am sure he could do with a little sister to fuss over and talk to. What do you think?”


He laughed as he hugged her once more. “I think having you around will certainly prevent life from being dull if it had ever been and, yes, I heartily approve of your plan for Aragorn. I don’t think he will know what hit him. Just remember your husband will be there and watching you, so don’t give me cause to get jealous.”


“Whoa! That gives me another idea, why don’t you and I spend some of our travelling time getting our companions, especially Aragorn, used to us being together. I would love to see you all coy and embarrassed around me and I could be all embarrassed as well as though we were courting. I could even flirt with the others a bit to throw them off the track a little. We can start out slow then perhaps stage a disagreement of a jealous nature a little later down the track due to my flirting. I think it could be quite fun.” Her genuine mischievous grin was back as she looked at him, “Think you could handle that, Elf?”


“I believe I can handle anything you can think of My Lady, I am at your service as always.” He laughed as he rolled on top of her, and then kissed her mercilessly.


0x0x0x0x0x0

In two different worlds each of the lovers surprised their friends as they suddenly laughed then smiled a faraway smile before once more resuming their slumber. The sleepers, of course, were unaware of how this simple act brought a little hope to those keeping watch over them.