Upon Earth's Opening

Chapter 8 : Like You Needed a Friend

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Caen found herself yawning almost constantly the next morning, thinking that she has got to stop doing these midnight trips to report to her father, or she’ll probably die from lack of sleep.

“Good morning, Water Nymph,” an unfortunately familiar voice said from behind her.

“Good morning, Prince Almighty,” Caen said dryly.

“Oh, I do like the sound of that one,” Legolas said, pulling out the chair right next to her and sitting in it.

“I knew you would,” Caen replied.

“You know me too well, then.”

“Oh, I am sure it is to the contrary. I know you very little.”

“You know me well enough,” Legolas said, trailing off.

“You know, it’s much too early for us to argue,” Caen informed him, putting her head in her hands and closing her eyes. She’d been up all night, even after she’d gotten back from her trip to Morthen’s encampment. She’d been thinking about that damn question that Legolas had asked. ‘What do you enjoy doing?’ And then she had spent time wondering about her seemingly split personalities, and by the time she finished arguing with herself about whether she was crazy or not, it was well into the night.

She decided that she was most likely insane.

“How was your night?” Legolas asked, taking a bite of the food that he had just stolen from Caen’s plate.

“Long,” Caen replied. She wasn’t in the mood for real conversation just yet. “You know, I think I’m going to go for a walk,” she said, standing and pushing her chair in. Legolas stood up, too.

“I’m coming with you,” Legolas said in a tone that offered no other option than to let him. They exited out a door onto a terrace and began an aimless trek.

“Alright. But if I fall asleep on you, you’ll have to carry me,” Caen warned. Legolas darted sideways and picked her up. “Put me down!” Caen yelled indignantly.

“No,” Legolas said stubbornly.

“Why are you carrying me?” Caen exclaimed, wanting to both beat him and curl into his arms and fall asleep at the same time. She felt her split personalities battling between themselves, both trying to win.

“Because I don’t doubt that you will fall asleep, you’re like a walking corpse. So I’ll be one step ahead by carrying you,” Legolas said. Caen hadn’t expected that.

“Will you put me down while there are people to stare and gossip?” Caen asked timidly. Timidly, she scorned herself. She never did anything timidly.

“No,” Legolas said again.

“Then at least carry me to a place where people can’t stare and gossip,” Caen said exasperatedly. She realized that she wasn’t going to win the battle of wits. Not right now, so she gave up.

Anyway, it felt kind of nice to be carried by Legolas...

That was her last thought before she fell asleep.

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Caen awoke, not aware of where she was. She was warm, she was comfortable... she had leaves in her hair? Caen sat up, glanced to her left, saw no one, glanced to her right, and saw a familiar blonde head sitting in a tree.

“Wood Elf!” she called. She felt so much better, though mortified that she’d fallen asleep in Legolas’ arms. She stretched her arms up and yawned loudly.

“Water Nymph!” he replied, not looking up from his work. He had taken a knife out and was using it to whittle a relatively small tree branch into an animal carving. Small chips of wood were falling down onto the ground 10 feet below him.

“Where are we?” Caen asked. A small voice in the back of her brain told her, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t get close to him.’ Physically or mentally speaking.

“We’re somewhere,” Legolas replied, finishing his work and tossing it down at her feet. She saw that it was a fish. “Why does it matter?”

“Why did you throw a fish at me?” Caen asked, picking it up and examining it closely. Legolas wasn’t great, but he’d obviously had some experience in woodwork.

“You looked like you needed a friend,” Legolas said with a sincere smile. Caen, unable to help herself, smiled too.

“I have friends,” Caen shrugged.

“You’re lying,” Legolas said, suddenly serious. “You might be able to lie to other people, but Caen, it won’t work on me. I’ve had too much experience in the field,” Legolas hopped lightly down from the tree and walked over to her. “Whatever you have lying behind those green eyes of yours is a lot more obvious than you think it is.”

“I have nothing behind my eyes,” Caen said defensively.

“Yes you do, and because you just denied it you practically just shouted out your secrets to me,” Legolas said smoothly. “I won’t ask, but I do know,” he warned.

“Well I know I’m not the only one hiding things,” Caen replied.

There was a pregnant silence between the two of them and then suddenly, “It’s my father,” Legolas burst out.

“King Thranduil?” Caen asked, extremely curious. “What about him?”

“He wants so much of me. He wants me to fight, he wants me to wed, he wants me to take the crown and rule Mirkwood with a beautiful queen by my side. I don’t think I can do that,” Legolas said, and for the first time Caen saw desperation behind his cool blue eyes.

“If I could just escape from the ‘your highness’s and ‘yes, my prince’s I would gladly trade my arm,” Legolas finished desperately. “Do you understand what I am saying?”

Yes! My father has enslaved me and I hate my job.

“I understand, Legolas,” Caen replied softly. Legolas pulled Caen into his arms and hugged her.

“You really are a friend,” Legolas said.

“See, I told you I wasn’t lying.”