Title & Chapter Number: I Lhathron 5/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: PG-13ish heading to NC-17 territory
Disclaimer: I don't own anything written by Tolkien (blah blah blah). I write strictly for my own enjoyment (blah blah blah). I do claim any original characters created by me (blah!).
Warnings: Het sex
Betas: Cristine (thank you thank you thank you !)
Cast: Legolas/OHFC, OHFC/OMC
Timeline: AU, approx.. 2500 Fourth Age
Spoilers: None
Summary: Humans have seriously dropped the ball. Middle-earth is in a state of chaos. The elves that didn't leave for the West are in denial and have sequestered themselves (not that it matters cause everyone thinks they are a myth anyway) in the forest. Now a new threat is growing in Middle-earth. Can the guardian, I Lhathron, Legolas and friends defeat the shadow?
Notes: I suck at summaries so don't be put off by the above babble. This is my very first fic so be kind! Oh and I will try desperately not to beg for reviews but you know how that goes - checking several times a day to see if anyone has bothered to acknowledge your heart & soul - opps I mean story *wink*.
One other thing, I am given to grandiose schemes so in my head this is a huge complex story with many twists and turns. My writing style is such that things might be a little unclear at first but if you sit tight and read on everything is revealed :)
In stone halls, two will see that silence stands between the three - Fragment from I Lhathron
~*~*~*~
Legolas sat in a chair, watching the woman he and Aduial had found in the woods. For two days she had not stirred from deep sleep. He had spent most of those two days within the rooms Aduial had chosen, thinking about the situation in which he now found himself. Initially, he had resented the woman in an immature fit of pique, seeing her as the reason he had to remain at court but as the first day slipped into the second and his anger faded, Legolas acknowledged he could not blame her for the current circumstances. She was not responsible for the rift between him and his father.
He leaned forward, continuing to observe her closely. Though Aduial had expressed confidence that the woman's sleep was merely a result of magic, and that she would awake in perfect health, he was becoming slightly worried. Her face was very still and placid against the pillow where her head rested. ~They look so different while sleeping, more truly themselves as if consciousness were a barrier that hid the inner self.~ The mortal need to lose consciousness for hours had always seemed a curious way to obtain rest.
Briefly, he wondered how many years she had seen. Though her face was smooth and unlined, she did not have the untouched quality of an innocent. Legolas sensed it had been many years since she left girlhood. Almost of it's own accord, his hand reached out to gingerly touch her black hair. She had masses of long but tightly spiraled curls that felt soft as new lamb's wool. His fingers left her hair and touched the smooth skin of her cheek. She was very different from any person he had seen in his long years of travel. When she abruptly stirred Legolas quickly withdrew his hand and sat back in the cushioned chair, feeling somewhat guilty for touching her without permission.
Ilorin stretched, her long body luxuriating in the satiny feel of the bed covers as the last tendrils of sleep melted from her consciousness. Confusion followed on the heels of awareness. Her sheets, in her small room in the temple dorm were definitely not satin. She sat up, blinking her eyes against the bright morning sunlight, and glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings. The bed where she sat was near the wall of a large circular room built of stone. Sunlight poured in through many tall latticework windows. Carved along the length of the curving walls were benches with red velvety cushions. Sconces holding unlit candles were periodically embedded in the walls. In the center of the room was a glossy round table, delicately carved from wood, with four red cushion covered chairs. They sat atop a circular rug woven in intricate patterns of red, rust and brown. There were many plants scattered around, some hanging from hooks in the walls, others sitting on wide windowsills. Across the room from the bed was an immense unlit fireplace. Ilorin was awed by the surroundings, and wondered just where she was.
"Good morning," Legolas said softly.
Hearing a smooth velvety voice, Ilorin quickly turned toward the sound. The immortal from the previous day sat in an ornate wooden chair next to the bed. Morning sunlight fell on his head and shoulders, illuminating his golden hair, making him appear magical and overwhelmingly beautiful. Ilorin's eyes widened in surprise . She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly as the events from two days ago came rushing to the forefront of her mind. The words of the temple council, the passage, the encounter with the two immortals and the long night walk among the trees.
~Ilorin, what have you gotten yourself into?~ She began taking slow deep breaths to quell the panic and fear that were quickly tying her stomach into knots. ~No matter what situation you have blindly walked into, panic will surely not serve you.~ Still breathing deeply, she opened her eyes. The immortal had moved his chair closer to the bed and was gazing intently at her face. A slight frown marred his features.
Ilorin felt a barrage of questions rising to her lips. "Master mage. I must ask..." her voice died away, as the immortal's frown deepened and she remembered that they did not share a common language. With a heavy sigh, Ilorin bowed her head and rubbed her temples. Tension and frustration threatened to bring tears to her eyes. ~It appears I have at least one language to learn if I am ever to know why they cast the passage.~ Fighting for control, Ilorin looked back into the frowning face of the immortal. Perplexed, they simply stared at each other from either side of an invisible wall of incomprehension.
After several minutes Ilorin saw an excited gleam enter the immortal's eyes. He placed his hand on his chest and said, "Legolas." She realized that he was trying to teach her something, probably his name.
Ilorin tentatively reached out, touching the same spot on Legolas's chest, and repeated, "Le-go-las? Legolas?" A broad smile spread across the immortal's face as his name rolled easily from her tongue. She touched her own chest and said her name.
"Ee-lor-en?" said Legolas similarly reaching toward her. She nodded emphatically. The barrier of language no longer seemed so insurmountable now that they had exchanged names.
Elated with their minor breakthrough, Legolas reached for her hands as her rich, joyful laughter filled the space between them. His laughter joined hers. Ilorin's black eyes met his steady blue gaze. Their laughter diminished and she glanced down, somewhat surprised to see her hands nestled in his. They were warm, and she could feel a tensile strength beneath his soft skin.
"Good morning Legolas, I see that the mortal woman has awakened."
Ilorin startled at the sound of another voice in the room. Somewhat embarrassed, she quickly removed her hands from Legolas's grasp, and turned toward the new voice. She spied the dark haired female immortal from the previous day. Ilorin was relieved to see mirth dancing in her eyes as she stood near a large wooden door.
"Good morning, Aduial. Yes, our guest has awakened, and has informed me that her name is Ilorin," said Legolas, still smiling as he walked toward the door.
"She speaks a language of Middle-earth?" said Aduial, with a vein of hope and excitement running through her voice.
"No, but one does not necessarily need a common language to learn another's name."
Aduial nodded. "Yes, introductions are certainly a good beginning," she said, wheeling a small wooden cart loaded with covered dishes of food, clothes and toiletries into the room. Legolas eyed the cart suspiciously. He was certain that the second shelf contained walking clothes.
Glancing toward the door, Ilorin noticed that Legolas and the immortal lady were bickering again and paid her no mind. She threw back the bed covers, and stood to better examine her surroundings. The terra cotta tiles were cool beneath her feet as she walked toward the center of the room. The room was even more impressive than she had first ascertained. She gingerly caressed the wooden table with her fingertips. It was a skilled piece of woodworking, created from a deep grained hardwood. The mantle over the fireplace was also of excellent workmanship, with elaborate carvings across the front. Throughout the entire room, painstaking care had been taken to create elegant, peaceful surroundings.
She could not help but compare it to her home in Hassana. Somehow these immortals had captured the quality and beauty of her wealthy family's home, and combined it with the simplicity and grace of the temple. Ilorin closed her eyes as a small wave of sadness washed over her. She missed her home, and longed for something familiar.
"It is pleasing that you have chosen to grace us with your attendance this morning, Aduial. I am certain that Ilorin will enjoy spending quiet time in her quarters with us," said Legolas in a guarded tone. He suspected that Aduial was planning to escort Ilorin around the halls and possibly the surrounding village, something he did not think was advisable. While he certainly welcomed her pledge to aid in the responsibility of looking after Ilorin, it needed to be established from the beginning that decision-making was his prerogative. Aduial had a somewhat forceful personality, and tended to maneuver herself into positions of authority. He felt Ilorin was vulnerable, and he feared Aduial, with good intentions of course, would push her into situations she was not yet prepared for.
"I know Mirkwood elves are not prone to sharing, but you couldn't possibly believe it is best to keep her sequestered in here?" said Aduial who, in her annoyance, deliberately used the name from past that hearkened to darker history of the forest and the wood elves.
"No, Aduial, but I had intended that Ilorin would have a few days rest before having to face the people in the city. Remember, she is a stranger in a strange land where she doesn't even speak the languages, "Legolas countered.
Hearing the genuine concern in his voice, Aduial softened her tone. "I understand your wishes, and it is certainly true that she is a stranger in a strange land, but consider this. If you were alone in an unfamiliar place, would you not wish to see as much of it as safely possible? To absorb as much information as possible? I would also not have her believe she is in a prison."
Legolas frowned and sighed. He had to concede that Aduial did have a point, but part of him strongly rejected the idea of taking Ilorin among the other elves. The Valar only knew what their reaction to her might be. In the distant past, her newness might have caused great curiosity and welcome among the higher castes of elves. She most certainly would have inspired suspicion and avoidance among the common elves of the realm. With the further isolation of the elves and the disappearance of the sea-longing, circumstances had changed. He now feared that she would find scorn and hostility from all of the elves, regardless of caste.
"Perhaps," said Aduial, "we should ask her?"
"How?"
"I have an idea, but first there is something else that needs to be said."
Ilorin realized that the room had grown quiet. Turning toward the arched doorway, she saw that both the immortals were looking at her, then the lady walked over to the table.
A gently smile graced Adduial's features. She bowed and touched her hand to her chest, repeating her name.
Ilorin did likewise with a small smile.
"I know you do not understand me," said Adduial, "but I want to extend a welcome and wish you well in all your travels through Middle-earth, young one."
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