Title & Chapter Number: Elencálë (The Light of the Elves) 18/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Rating: NC-17 Romance/Adventure
Disclaimer:
Warnings:
Betas:
Cast: Legolas/Shu Lien
Timeline: AU - Post RotK
Spoilers: None
Summary: This story takes place about 100 years after the quest of the One Ring. Even after the fall of Sauron, the foul breath of evil can still be felt on the winds of Middle Earth. Some say it is just the nature of the world, the shadow of the light. Some say it is rising and has once again become sentient. King Elessar rules with a just and even hand, but Men throughout the land are falling into darkness, succumbing to greed, hatred and violence among themselves and against the world. The Light of the Elves departs as the Eldar continue to withdraw to the West, leaving darkness in their wake.
Notes: Elves do not close their eyes during Reverie. While I have updated the sexual culture of the Eldar to reflect more modern values (and indeed the fact that I feel that such sensual and advanced beings would revel in such a pass time and consider it natural and pure), the concept that Elves can tell if other Elves have had sex actually is Tolkien's.
Chapter 18
meldanya: my beloved (Quenya)
vessanya: my wife (Quenya) (This one's for you Amy! )
Elleth: female Elf (Sindarin)
* is a reference to the translation of the name Elerrina: "crown of stars" (Elrohir's romantic interest)Shu Lien watched the trees as they swayed in the light, cool morning breeze and inhaled the crisp air through her nose, letting it sweep her mind clear. Emotions from the encounter with Thranduil reverberated through her, stirring the already swirling pot within her. Not necessarily ominous emotions, but strong ones nonetheless. Raising a tentative finger to her throat, she traced the delicate leaf with her middle finger, closing her eyes softly. She was humbled and stunned by such a significant gift. Wearing the necklace was a physical reminder of who she was now.
But who exactly was she? So much had changed in a day that she could not begin to get her bearings. Settling back on her horse, back into the routine of travel, back into her duty once again, broke the spell of surrealism and made her realize how different she actually felt. It was a sudden and jarring realization. Deep within her she was changed.
After a long moment, she let her hand fall back to of her horse's mane. She absently twisted her fingers in the stiff hairs and took a deep breath, inhaling the grounding scents of horse and forest. Opening her eyes, she turned and found Legolas watching her from where he rode at her side. His face measured her attentively.
While she had questions about the consequential impact of her feelings, those feelings themselves were acutely clear. As Shu Lien met his eyes she smiled easily and mouthed the words, "I love you." A slow, open smile spread across his face.
Elrohir and Gimli rode behind them, Gimli already beginning his gruff teasing of Elvish hospitality. Legolas found it easy to ignore the baiting of his friend as his eyes and mind were duly occupied. Shu Lien rode beside him, erect, graceful, and elegant in her Mandarin garb, her hair loose and rippling in shimmering waves around her waist with each jarring step of her horse. They were both proud and private people, but he was beginning to realize how difficult it was going to be to keep his feelings for this woman from affecting his persona. So much had changed in the space of a day. He had both faced and released many of the strangling shackles of his emotional past. He had relinquished the stifling hold of expectation on the path of his future. He was free. In some ways that freedom made him feel like he no longer knew who he was. It was a sudden and jarring realization. Deep within him he was changed.
"...I guess I can count it among my blessings that we were not subjected to another evening of ballads in Mirkwood - I endured enough singing for several lifetimes in Lothlórien. Especially since those Wood Elves are renowned for their high, whiny voices and are painfully partial to those sickening love songs. And you wonder why I don't speak Elvish! I don't want to understand anymore of those blasted ballads than I already do..." Gimli looked evilly ahead at Legolas as he stepped up the intensity of his insults. Elrohir gaped and stifled his laugh at the audacious taunting.
Legolas tore his eyes from his love as he turned to glare at the Dwarf. "Just because when Dwarves sing it draws a pack of Wargs because they think one of their kind is dying, doesn`t mean that you can`t learn to appreciate true musical artistry." Legolas snorted, as he dug into his saddle pack to pull out the breakfast that had been wrapped neatly in an unbleached broadcloth.
Gimli grumbled, "Well it is about time I heard word from you, Elf. I was beginning to think that you had lost your pointed ears along with your heart." Elrohir laughed outright then and Legolas cut his eyes back to his friend with an expression of annoyance. Shu Lien turned to glance back at them, stifling a grin at their antics.
Legolas pulled out a bun speckled with nuts and fruit from the pack and leaned over, handing it to Shu Lien, who accepted it gratefully. She had not realized how hungry she actually was, not having eaten since the previous day and having had quite a bit of activity in the interim.
Legolas smiled with tender amusement as she ravenously and unselfconsciously devoured the bun, happily regarding it between bites. Turning to his friends behind him, he offered them the food pack, still glaring slightly at Gimli.
Elrohir shook his head and Gimli growled, "We have already eaten. We ate our breakfast unattended while you were no doubt recovering from a long and strenuous night."
Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise at Gimli`s brazen words, somehow managing both a grimace and a grin. "Hmm…perhaps you should have slept in this morning as well. It might have improved your temper."
Gimli was just teasing, but the edges of his fear of a change in their relationship were already showing. Inside, Gimli was very supportive of their decision and only wished they had made it sooner. But at the same time Dwarves were staid creatures of habit, and hated change. And Legolas was his closest friend. Gimli was afraid.
There was an almost awkward moment of silence as each withdrew into his private reflections. Legolas glanced at Shu Lien who was still happily munching away, looking ahead almost absently. He knew she was far too sensitive and aware to miss the undertone of the banter and could only conclude that she was giving them the space to renegotiate their relationships. They had talked about this eventuality, albeit lightly, in their discussions the day before.
At that moment, Shu Lien cut her eyes over to him and gave him the very briefest of winks, a ghost of a smile upon her lips, and then returned her gaze to the road ahead. Stifling a grin, Legolas slowed his horse so that he was riding between his friends.
Gimli, never one to miss a silent communication from his enigmatic friend, resettled in his saddle and launched into his usual, "Have I ever told you about when I..."
Legolas interrupted. "I am sure you have, but I probably wasn't listening so pray continue."
Chuckling comfortably, Gimli continued with another one of his raucous tales of Dwarvish gallantry.
~*~*~*~
Elrohir removed the travel bags from his horse, watching Legolas out of the corner of his eye with a gentle smile. Legolas was unloading his horse, but his eyes were glued to Shu Lien who was attentively petting and speaking to her own mount. They had maintained a controlled and undemonstrative travel relationship through out this first day of travel, as he had expected them to, but it was endearing to see the looks they stole in the other's direction when they thought no one was looking. Having finally submitted to the ways of the heart, their love was deep and was not concealed easily, even by such restrained warriors as they.
Shu Lien had spent the day discovering just why the Mandarin had forsaken intimate relationships. They were extremely distracting! Her morning of riding meditation had been spent constantly bringing her mind back to her breath, her center, away from distracting thoughts of Legolas--what the future with him would look like, what his father had said, how she would incorporate her Mandarin identity with whatever she became, how much she longed to touch him again... the thoughts were endless, the feelings omnipresent. She felt like she had regressed many years back to being a child and a beginning student.
Still more distracting, underneath it all the rush of whispered velvet words were sewn into the fabric of her thoughts by Elencálë. Unintelligible. So subtle, so soft that it was like the cool ephemeral brush of a dream that had gotten caught under her eyelids and brought into the crisp reality of the waking breath. She took a deep breath, stilling her disparate emotions, bringing her attention from the ring, and reached up to unfasten the bags from her saddleless horse.
Just then Legolas moved to her side, his warm hand rubbed briefly over the small of her back under her hair. Putting his hands over hers, he wordlessly began to unfasten the buckle, keeping his side in contact with her arm. He felt the warm breath of her soft sigh on his hands. He certainly knew that she needed no assistance with such a chore, but he had wanted - had needed - to touch her.
Elrohir's grin spread as Shu Lien stood on the balls of her feet to whisper something into Legolas' ear which made him chuckle and turn to her with a tender smile, only inches from her face as he replied. She put a light hand on his arm as her eyes washed over his face adoringly and she softly laughed. Elrohir was touched.
And so was Gimli, though he would never admit it to Legolas. His fears had been put at ease as the day had unfolded much the way it always did on the road. In fact the journey today had been quite enjoyable. He had never seen Legolas this carefree and light. The Elf was relaxed, consistently cheerful and sharp. Shu Lien had meditated all morning but had joined them socially in the afternoon, offering her brilliant smiles and soft chuckles even more often than normal. But only a blind man could miss how they looked at each other.
"Shu Lien!" Gimli walked over to her. She turned with raised eyebrows. "Why don't you take that Elf of yours and collect some firewood. If for nothing else then to give us a few moment's peace from those longing looks you two have been stealing all afternoon."
Shu Lien blushed slightly and sniffed a laugh, and then leaned over and kissed Gimli lightly on the tip of his nose. "See, you are the sweetest of Dwarves."
A crimson tide rose from his ruddy beard to cover his face as he mumbled something unintelligible. Looking around, embarrassed, he finally settled his eyes on his unloaded bags and moved over to start their unpacking, still muttering under his breath.
Smiling gently at his fluster, Shu Lien turned to find Legolas regarding her with a grin. Without a word, the two walked off together into the wood.
~*~*~*~
As soon as they got a few feet into the wood, Shu Lien felt Legolas' arm steal around her waist. She leaned into his shoulder with a sigh as her arm went around him. They walked in silence for a long moment, luxuriating in the gentle rhythm of the other's step that brought their bodies to gently bump together.
"My love, it is a very difficult thing to watch you all day and not be able to reach out my hand to touch you." Legolas finally said very softly, looking down at her as they walked.
Shu Lien said nothing, but stopped, reaching her hand up to his jaw, and raised up to press her lips sweetly to his. What was intended to be a light, brief kiss turned effortlessly slow and sumptuous. Feeling his jaw working under her palm as the kiss deepened, she brought the other hand to his face, turning completely so that she faced him.
Legolas wrapped his arms around her waist, a soft moan escaping against her lips as they both quickly lost themselves to the insistent heat of the embrace. She pressed her body against his as one hand moved down to his chest and the other around to the nape of his neck to twist gently in his silken hair.
Almost instantly the sensation became a burning and their bodies ignited. Legolas' mouth hungrily devoured her as she dueled with his tongue with equal passion and their hands roamed desperately, drinking, gulping in the other by touch. As Legolas crushed her against him, she felt the hardness of his arousal against her stomach and it made her moan and unconsciously, slowly, rub her body against his.
Their minds awoke in tandem.
Simultaneously they pulled apart in shock at how quickly they had each come to the point where self-control was tenuous at best. Disentangling himself gently, Legolas turned to the side a moment, head bowed, following his breath and trying to calm his body. Shu Lien attempted similar restoration, breathing in the cool evening air and closing her eyes. They each knew that such a journey could not be afforded a moment's indiscretion.
But reigning in the powerful voice of body and heart was a daunting task. They had had so little time together.
Several minutes passed as their soft panting breaths joined the falling dusk and the rustle of the forest creatures in the dried leaves around them. Legolas finally turned back to Shu Lien, a wry, accepting smile upon his lips. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips for a long moment, closing his eyes and then opening them to grace her with a soft gaze.
Shu Lien smiled resignedly as he rubbed his smooth, velvet cheek on the back of her hand. "This is going to be a difficult journey indeed." She sighed with an exhale of breath.
Legolas just nodded slowly against her hand and scanned the area, until his eyes rested on a small outcropping of rocks. Leading Shu Lien by the hand to the formation, he backed up to lean against them, feet slightly apart and took her other hand in his, drawing her to him. Standing between his knees, Shu Lien gazed at him a long while, eyes darting over his face, memorizing every detail as his thumbs absently stroked her wrists. Removing a hand from his, she brought her palm up to his cheek and held it there while a slow loving smile spread over her features.
Legolas returned the smile as he pushed a stray lock back into place behind her ear. He brought his arms loosely around her waist. Shu Lien leaned forward for a soft, brief kiss to place her cheek against his shoulder. Burying her face in his neck, she inhaled the sweet, musky scent of forest that was Legolas.
"Shu Lien...meldanya... vessenya." He whispered closing his eyes and leaning his cheek against her hair. Shu Lien smiled broadly and squeezed him tighter. Her heart swelled at hearing such loving words fall from his lips in her native Quenya.
All thoughts of firewood were lost for quite some time.
~*~*~*~
Gimli caught the movement in the corner of his eye and without even looking up, chuckled deep in his throat from where he was whittling beside the roaring fire and dinner dishes.
Opening one eye from where he was sprawled by the snapping flames -hands behind his head - Elrohir turned slightly so that he could see Legolas and Shu Lien entering the campsite, each with an arm full of firewood and an expression of chagrin. Closing his eye again, Elrohir turned his face back up to the sky with a sly smile on his lips.
"Firewood must have been scarce in your part of the forest." Gimli, still chuckling, raised his eyes from his work as they approached. Legolas just grinned and dropped the firewood unceremoniously near the fire and Shu Lien followed suit.
Legolas went to the pot of stew and removed the lid, stirring it and taking a sniff. "Oh, that's right. It was Elrohir's turn to cook this night." Legolas groaned through a mischievous grin, cutting his eyes over to where the Elf lounged indolently.
"Those who live in a talan should not fell trees, Legolas." Elrohir drawled in Quenya, not opening his eyes. Legolas snorted and began to serve the meal into the tin bowls for the four of them.
A dinner of warm conversation among the four friends continued the amiable mood of the day`s travel. Legolas sat down cross-legged where Shu Lien had knelt so that his knee was lightly touching her thigh and he continued with some of the banter that Gimli had begun during the day.
Shu Lien ate the stew from the tin bowl without even tasting it, listening distractedly to the light and lively conversation. Underneath the voices of her friends and the chirping sounds of the night, the rustle of a hushed voice scurried restlessly.
~*~*~*~
Elrohir had been standing there for a few minutes at least. Somehow he couldn't bring himself to wake Legolas for his watch. Legolas was spooned up behind Shu Lien under the blankets, his arm over her body and his face pressed into her hair. It was eerie to see his friend in Reverie with his eyes closed, but that is not what gave him pause. They looked so happy. The controlled restraint had been melted by slumber so that the joy showed through in the utter serenity of their faces. It warmed Elrohir's heart to see Legolas so at peace. And it seemed a travesty to disturb such slumber. Elrohir sighed slightly and shifted.
At the small sound of his sigh, Legolas' eyes popped open, alert and concerned. His gaze instantly met Elrohir's and furrowing his brow he began to sit up. Elrohir put out a palm, motioning that all was well. Relief creeping over his features, he looked down at Shu Lien as he gently disengaged himself. She stirred and he whispered something against her ear as he lovingly pushed her hair back from her cheek. Carefully sliding from under the blankets, he stood stretching absently before walking to the fire where Elrohir had withdrawn to warm his hands, still regarding his friend.
Legolas sat down on a mat by the fire and gratefully accepted the cup of warm tea. After a moment, still feeling Elrohir's eyes fixed on him, he quizzically tore his eyes from the fire. The other Elf just smiled slightly lopsidedly.
"What?" Legolas asked with amused exasperation.
"I never thought to see such a light in your eyes." Elrohir spoke with a quiet sincerity that belied his broadened grin.
"Is it the late hour that makes you so sentimental? Oh, but you have always had a romantic heart." Legolas snorted, trying to brush off the comment.
"And you haven't?" Elrohir laughed softly.
"I am a Wood Elf, as Gimli has so aptly pointed out." Legolas shrugged slyly. He continued more gently. "You would do well to remember such soft-hearted sentiment upon your return to Rivendell. If you would but see it, your eyes reflect your crown of stars.*"
Elrohir's grin faded and his eyes immediately dropped to the ground as he worked his jaw thoughtfully back and forth a moment, shifting uncomfortably. Looking back up, he met Legolas' gaze and sniffed a self-conscious laugh before rising to his feet.
"May those stars shine brightly on your rest." Legolas winked.
Elrohir mumbled something incoherent before retreating to his bedroll.
Legolas did not find as much amusement in his friend`s fluster as he normally would, realizing he had been in the same position just days before. And now everything had changed.
His mind drifted immediately back to his own situation. It was still not without its tensions. Legolas knew little had been discussed between them. They had declared themselves to each other, but no details past the acceptance of their emotional bond had been acknowledged. They were each left, in some ways, faceless: Legolas having relinquished his title and resultant responsibilities and Shu Lien having abandoned her identity by forsaking her vows. He had no idea where they would go from here. For now, the trip to Rivendell and the completion of Shu Lien's duty held their gaze as a distracting horizon. It afforded them the luxury of time that each needed to come to terms with such complete and sudden change. But once the trip was over...
His thoughts were interrupted by the rustle of the rough-hewn travel blankets and he looked up to see Shu Lien walking toward him, braided hair tousled, a drowsy smile on her face, the blankets wrapped about her shoulders like a cloak. Without thought he held his hand out to her invitingly. She came to him by the fire and sat down as his arm came around her shoulders. Lying down at his side, she pillowed her head in his lap and drew her feet up under the blanket with a sigh.
"I do not wish to spend another night without you." She mumbled sleepily as she snuggled against him, settling comfortably.
Legolas smiled and bent to press his lips to her temple. Sighing contentedly, he began to slowly, rhythmically stroke her hair as he watched her slip back into slumber. Whatever difficulties the future did hold, they would find a way to overcome them together. Of this he was certain.
~*~*~*~
Shu Lien awoke in the usual hour before dawn. Legolas was seated beside her and he greeted her with a loving smile. She sat up and kissed his cheek with a whispered good morning.
With a resigned sigh she stood and went to the fire to poor the tea that Legolas had prepared. She must maintain her discipline. Legolas spread out a blanket and curled up watching her, his face unreadable. With a small smile to her love, and quick restrained kiss to his forehead, she lay a blanket over him and was soon seated in meditation.
~*~*~*~
Legolas' eyes opened again from his Reverie several hours later. Shu Lien was just rising from her meditations and came to the fire, rubbing her hands against the chill of the damp earth. She poured two cups of tea from the pot that had stayed warm at the fire. Handing one to Legolas, she smiled absently as she sat beside him.
Legolas saw the pensive furrow to her brow and turned expectantly.
She didn`t even look up from the fire. "Legolas, Elencálë has awoken. She speaks to me. I have heard her voice for several days now. When the noise from my thoughts stills in meditation, her whispers are there... so soft." Shu Lien spoke quietly, thoughtfully and then took a sip from her tea.
Legolas' brow furrowed deeply. Elencálë represented the light of the Elves and had not the sinister maker of the One Ring that he had escorted not so long ago with the Fellowship. But still he knew that even pure power could seduce and corrupt. It struck a deep fear and anxiety in his heart. "What does it say to you?"
Hearing his concern, Shu Lien turned and gave him an assessing look. "Oh, I cannot discern the words. It is the slightest breath of speech, the most delicate of scents that haunts my mind. It does not seem evil..." Shu Lien looked into each of his eyes as if searching for confirmation.
He shook his head. "No, but rings of power are no mere trinkets to be trifled with, as you know. Having seen their power first-hand, it makes an unease settle in my chest." Releasing a breath, he raised his cup to his lips. "Tell me all of what the Lady said of it."
Shu Lien nodded and returned her gaze to the fire, letting her eyes unfocus as she related the conference in Lothlórien.
"I would tell you first of that which you bear to Rivendell." Galadriel had spoken in Quenya with no introduction. "Within the purse at your waist is Luinhin's ring, Elencálë." Shu Lien drew in a soft gasp of surprise. This ring was well known in her realm, though its exact history, purpose and potential had always been shrouded in mystery. It was one of the great Elvish rings of power. Forged by the Eldar in Valinor in ancient times, its power contained the Light that the Eldar possess and was brought into Middle Earth to act as a beacon, a remembrance to the Elves living in the mortal world.
After a pause, watching as Shu Lien`s mind processed this information, Galadriel continued. "Your people probably know more of this ring than we, for its story has been lost to time in our lands. What I know is that the Amaurëa were stewards of the dawn and of Elencálë, and its power aided them in remaining true to the ancient world, while those of us in Middle Earth found ourselves tempted farther and farther from the ways of our ancestors.
"The Amaurëa believe the Light has yet to play a part in the destiny of the mortal world, even though our people continue to steadily leave the Entardar . Like myself, they could not see the path the ring must take, but believed that Lord Elrond, the half-Elven, would be the proper steward for Elencálë. His sympathy and loyalty to the mortal world is the greatest among the Eldar of Middle Earth, and his library extensive. It was their hope that he would be able to discern the path that Elencálë should take until its time in the mortal world has passed. In the end it must return to the Undying Lands."
Galadriel stopped, cocking her head slightly, and regarded Shu Lien measuringly. Shu Lien let her eyes close a moment, absorbing what had been said. She opened them when her thoughts had settled.
"My Lady. Why was this a journey for Man?" Shu Lien asked quietly.
"The ring is Elvish, powerful and pure. But power by its very nature can corrupt. For an Elf to carry such a charge would be seductive, tempting, particularly considering the strife that has been encountered along its journey. The fear is that it would be misused. Elencálë's power is not entirely understood, but should it fall into dark hands, or its purpose distorted, the damage it could wreak would be great. In human hands, the ring will sleep." Galadriel had held Shu Lien's gaze with piercing eyes, until she had seen that all of this information had been understood. Then she had shown Shu Lien the Mirror.
"Perhaps the ring awakens with your Fëa," Legolas suggested quietly after Shu Lien returned from relating the memory. "I am grateful we have only a little more than two weeks of travel until we reach Rivendell. My heart shall be glad when you finally see it into the hands of Lord Elrond."
Shu Lien nodded and turned back to gaze into the fire, emptying the small cup past her lips, and then stood, going to her packs to collect her weapon. With a last look at Legolas, who was regarding his cup, deep in thought, she moved away from the camp to begin her Katas. His concern worried her, but she herself merely felt perplexed and curious. Letting confusion and speculation fall away, she breathed into the landscape of attention and began to move.
~*~*~*~
Later that morning, the party was packing up to begin the trip again down Old Forest Road. By the end of the day, they would be out of Mirkwood and ready to cross the plains to the foot of the Misty Mountains. Shu Lien was stowing her supplies on the back of her horse and listening to the banter behind her. Legolas and Gimli were on friendly terms - yesterday had been enjoyed by all - but it seemed to her that there was a residual tension abiding in the scald of some of their jests.
"So, Gimli. You need not carry your snack in your beard. We have more rolls stowed in the packs should you find your stomach calls." Legolas barely looked up from his packing as Gimli walked by, his words shaking with a soft laugh.
The Dwarf stopped and snorted, turning and grumbling as he pulled several rather large crumbs (more like chunks) from the wiry mass. "Elf, you will be sorry you do not have such a magnificent wrap when we travel through the cold breath of the High Pass."
Legolas looked up and gave him a syrupy smile. "Meaning the beard or the assorted food accoutrement?" The Dwarf glared, huffing again, and extracted a few more memories of breakfast before rearranging the thick braids on his chest. Shu Lien turned to regard them with an amused half-smile.
"I have a feeling you actually jest from jealousy. After all, Elf, if you were able to grow such a fine beard as this, it would make it much easier to tell you apart from the simpering Elf maidens you so resemble." Gimli laughed, meeting his gaze evilly. Legolas frowned, raising an eyebrow, his pride prickling.
Shu Lien chuckled and stepped forward, putting her hand in Legolas` as she turned to the Dwarf. "Gimli, I have not had the least bit of trouble discerning the difference." Shu Lien kept her voice serious though her eyes sparkled. She turned to meet Legolas` meaningful smile with one of her own as he bent over her hand and kissed it.
Gimli rolled his eyes and huffed exasperatedly. "Oh, are we now going to see you habitually take the side of the Elf?"
Shu Lien turned back to Gimli. "Not at all. But in this particular instance I think it only my duty to defend the honor of my `frail and dainty' husband." Shu Lien's nostrils flared slightly with her suppressed grin as Gimli chuckled, conceding. Legolas snorted with indignation, but let a smile tug at his lips nonetheless.
Elrohir laughed. She had a gift at managing to find the words that would appease the egos of both parties at once. He mounted his horse easily and watched, chuckling low, as Gimli struggled onto his pony with a rather exuberant push from Legolas. Shu Lien met Elrohir's eyes with a knowing smile as she leapt lightly onto her steed and walked the animal to his side. Legolas mounted and he and Gimli led them back to the Old Forest Road.
They traveled most of the morning submerged in amiable conversation. The banter between Legolas and Gimli continued, but the scale returned to normal. Shu Lien and Elrohir rode behind the two amid comfortable conversations about Rivendell and its history.
Suddenly, Shu Lien stopped her horse and leapt to the ground, going to the side of the road with a soft exclamation. Legolas and Gimli did not hear and continued their comfortable pace.
"Elrohir! Have you ever seen such a plant?" Shu Lien squatted at the small clump of plants, hand lightly brushing the fragrant, pink flowers with a maroon ring and fringed petal tips. Her fingers traced one of the thin, grass-like, blue-green leaves.
Elrohir dismounted and stooped at her side, shaking his head, his brow furrowed and lips pursed in curiosity. His fingers crushed the tip of a leaf between them and then brought the scent to his nose. "Most peculiar. I have never seen its like." His gaze met Shu Lien`s. "Elerrina would know what it is, shall we take a blossom to her?" Shu Lien's expression did not betray the leaping of her heart at the mention of his love. She had never been able to coax a word from him about this Elleth, even though she guessed that many of the pensive, silent passages of the journey had been spent pondering his heart. She simply nodded and pinched a leaf and blossom from the plant, and stood. He did so as well and they returned to their horses.
"Does she work with plants?" Shu Lien asked casually, as she packed the plant carefully in her bags.
"Yes. She is the master gardener of the remedial herbs in my father's gardens. She came several decades ago from Lothlórien to study with him as she had exhausted the tutelage of their herbalist." Elrohir mounted quickly and glanced at Shu Lien as she mounted as well, turning to grace him with an open but placid smile.
"You met in Rivendell?" Shu Lien asked after speaking her horse forward. She was very easy to talk to in that she never broadcasted pressure or invested curiosity in the conversation, but simply attentively followed the lead of the speaker, encouraging them with her rapt but undemanding attention.
Elrohir nodded and gave in to the impulse to continue. "I remember quite clearly the first time I met her. Her fingernails had soil beneath them, the knees of her leggings were stained and her hair pulled back in a braid!" Shu Lien rolled her eyes mirthfully at his snobbery, while he grinned. "I gave her quite a hard time, I assure you. I used to tease her that my father had taken on a hobbit as an apprentice. Of course, when I first started taking notice enough to tease, Elladan commenced his own brutal campaign of jesting at my expense. He has no mercy." Elrohir chuckled while Shu Lien's grin widened companionably.
Her face did not betray how pleased she was in hearing these little details about Elerrina. She was well aware of Elrohir's reputation of courting only status, style and desirability. But underneath his suave and debonair exterior was a gentle and unpretentious heart. He needed someone who would see him for who he was, not feed the fire of facade.
"She is from Lothlórien, then?"
"Her mother was from Rivendell and sire from Lothlórien, where she was raised. Both were archers who died in an Orc battle against Dol Goldur before she had seen the years of a mortal lifetime." Elrohir spoke with a slight sigh as he looked ahead, his eyes wandering pensively.
"So she dedicates her life to healing and life." Shu Lien stated quietly as Elrohir turned to nod with a soft smile. "An honorable choice. I would very much like to meet such an Elleth." she said sincerely.
"So you shall. I think she shall be just as pleased to meet you." Elrohir's smile broadened as they came upon their other two companions who had stopped their horses to wait for them.
Shu Lien smiled sweetly to Elrohir before turning to meet the gaze of the two before them. Gimli was opening his mouth to speak, but Shu Lien purposefully beat him to any intended snide remark about their delay.
"Gimli. Did you know that I have yet to hear a Dwarvish ballad? I am told that your music rivals that of the Elves when well-performed." Shu Lien urged her horse to fall into step with his pony as their party headed out again, seamlessly switching traveling partners in the process.
"Shu Lien! You look a gift horse in the mouth! " Elrohir whispered fervently with a laugh, his horse falling into step with Legolas' behind them. The two Elves snickered.
"And now I look him in the ass..." Gimili said pointedly looking at Elrohir. The Elves just laughed harder, Elrohir making a dramatic face of mock offense.
Shaking his head with exasperated annoyance, he turned back to Shu Lien, who was having fair success at stifling a rather insistent grin. "Gimli, I would take that as a challenge."
"Yes, I think I will." Gimli sat up straighter on his horse and cleared his throat. After a moment of silence, the rich, resonant sound of his voice began to rise to the forest canopy. All of the grating, gravely quality had fallen away and in its stead was the smoothness of a sonorous, expressive bass. A soft expression of enchantment crept over his face as his eyes lifted to the trees, unfocused. Shu Lien had never seen such an expression of bliss on his face and was delighted. She turned to glance back at the other two and saw that they were listening intently, each wearing that unique Elvish expression of soulful appreciation and pleasure that only appeared in the presence of music. Legolas met her gaze and in it they exchanged smiles of silent appreciation for Gimli's charm and artistry.
The Dwarvish words wound their way around the trunks of the trees demanding the attention of any ear it fell on. The song was complex and uncompromising, lacking the sinewy grace of the Elvish ballad, but bringing to breathtakingly vivid life the realm of stone and shadow. If the song of the Elves spoke to the spirit and heart, the Dwarvish one articulated the grounded, the material - the solid reality of earth and hearth. It was a voice resplendent in its mortality. Though the words were foreign to her, the picture they painted was vibrant and alive, dark and solid, solemn and soulful.
The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.For ancient king and Elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun...(from The Hobbit, by Tolkien)
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