Title & Chapter Number: Hearts in Lothlórien 4/10
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the work of the Masterful Tolkien. Tolkien's the man! Also, I shamelessly stole, er, borrowed the series title from Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis." And the chapter title from Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence." This story, however, is all mine. I make no money off of this and probably should be working on something where I might actually make some money…but here ya' go.
Warnings: Slash, (DUH!)
Betas: Salina
Cast: Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Galadriel.
Timeline: TA-AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: Legolas and Galadriel take a starlit walk together and Legolas reveals his true heart to her
Notes: I liked the idea that Legolas was able to endure Galadriel's venture inside his heart better than some of the others. But I thought, what if there is something that he refuses to let her see? And though I am not entirely sure that Legolas wouldn't understand the concept of death, being that he is a Mirkwood Elf where they must be constantly battling the Orcs, I loved the way Orlando Bloom looked after the deaths of both Gandalf and Boromir. So I tried to incorporate that into the story as well.Many Thanks to Salina for the Beta and to Rebecca for the encouragement.
The Cover of Night
~*~*~*~
"Legolas was away much among the Galadhrim, and after that first night he did not sleep with the other companions, though he returned to eat and talk with them."
-- The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien~*~*~*~
He is alone when I find him, walking under the night sky. He must hear me approach, for he turns to me and for a moment I think I can see the light of the stars reflected in Legolas' eyes.
"My Lady," he says, bowing slightly in my direction.
"Legolas," I reply. "You are out late this night."
He smiles ever so slightly. "As are you, my Lady. Would you care to walk with me?" Legolas offers me an arm, which I gladly accept.
We walk in silence for a long while, breathing in the air and drifting in our own thoughts.
At last I speak. "How are you getting along here in Lothlorien?" I ask him.
"It is wonderful here. I am very grateful to have a chance to appreciate the nighttime. Too oft on the road we had to travel under the cover of night and could not take the leisure to truly appreciate that which gave us protection and shielded us from watchful eyes."
I laugh. "Then it seems we have a common bond, Legolas of Mirkwood. I find the night sky to be my saving grace. Without late night walks such as these, I would never rest peacefully at all."
"Peace is hard to find these days, even in the mind or heart."
He falls silent then and I wonder what it is that leaves his mind and heart so troubled.
"Perhaps I could help you with finding this peace of mind?"
He looks at me for a moment, considering my offer and then shakes his head. "The offer is appreciated, my Lady, but it would do no good to speak of it."
He seems so sad. I stop walking and turn to face him.
"Legolas, you are conflicted with a turmoil that the Ring can sense. If you do not resolve this conflict then the Ring will use that against you. Will you take this needless risk or will you let me help you, as I offered to do?" I speak harshly, hoping to show him what trouble his secrets may cause.
"I thank you again, my Lady," he says, though this time his voice is harsher as he restrains his anger at my words. "I know you mean well, but my problems are my own and I will resolve them on my own."
I will not back down from this Elf. "How will you resolve them, Legolas? What is it you hide from?"
"I do not hide." He is shaking now. "There are things on this Quest that are far more difficult to resist than the voice of the Ring."
I am surprised he admits to hearing the voice of the Ring.
"There are things," he continues, "that are more tempting and more dangerous to give into."
He steps away from me now and hangs his head. "I am sorry," he whispers. "I did not mean to…" He looks at me once again and his eyes are sparkling with the light of unshed tears. "I beg your forgiveness, my Lady. I know not what came over me."
"I wish only to help ease your burden, Legolas. Do not apologize, but please tell me what you fight inside your heart."
I step towards him and he does not pull away. I lift my hand to brush at his cheek. Legolas leans into my touch and his eyes fall shut.
"I saw Gandalf fall. It tears me apart inside to see it in my head, yet I cannot block the image out."
A single tear falls down his cheek and onto my hand.
"And then I see Boromir holding Gimli back, stopping him from rushing back into the Mines, back into death. And I think, 'why would Gimli run back into a place that holds a Balrog? Does he not know what a Balrog is?' But I know that he does."
Legolas' voice catches in his throat and he pulls away from my touch. He fixes his eyes on the ground.
"Gimli knew that only death awaited him if he returned inside Moria. I saw him fighting in Balin's Tomb. He fought with his whole strength, as if he did not fear death. And now I know…"
Legolas lifts his eyes to meet mine, and the tears he has fought to hold back stream down his face.
"Gimli does not fear death, he welcomes it. And he will die before this Quest is through."
I watch as the proud Elf sinks to his knees in despair. He cries openly and his body shakes like a mallorn leaf in the night breeze.
I kneel before him. "Do not weep, Legolas. Gimli needs only the will to live. He believes death is his Fate. You must show him another Fate, for you know there is another."
I dry his cheeks and tilt Legolas' chin up, and hold him there so he cannot look away. "I know you are hiding among my people. I know you distance yourself from the Fellowship. Do not. Show him your heart. If you do not, he will go looking for death. And you will die of grief."
He looks unsure, but rises nonetheless. I rise as well.
Legolas offers me his arm. "May I escort you back to your chambers, my Lady?" he asks, his voice sounding stronger than it is has all night.
"It would be my honor."
We walk arm in arm in silence, and I notice that a little smile has returned to his face once more.
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