So the Journey Begins

T.A. 2941

Rivendell

The evening sun began to set as Estel and I returned from practicing.

"You did wonderful today, Estel, your stance is getting better."

"I still fell." Estel mumbled with his head down.

"Do not be so hard on yourself, one day you might be able to knock me down."

We reached the steps that left the courtyard, when a voice at the top of the stairs called my name.

"Lìvia."

I looked up seeing, "Legolas." I greeted back.

(What is he doing here?)

"Lord Elrond told me I might find you down here." Legolas said coming down the steps, until he came face to face with me, at the end of the stairs.

"Who is this?" Legolas asked, looking down acknowledging the presence of Estel.

"This is, Estel. Estel, this is Prince Legolas of the Woodland Realm."

Estel bowed in respect for Legolas, and Legolas bowed back.

"Is that the 'Ellon' you speak of-" Estel was cut of and started mumbling, due to the fact that my hand was now covering his mouth.

"Children. Strange what goes through their minds, or out of their mouths."

"You speak of me?" Legolas asked beaming, like an idiot.

"Do not gloat Prince, it will be your downfall." I replied removing my hand from Estels' mouth.

"This is not gloating, Lady Lìvian, it is pride."

"Ugh, even worse." I groaned, ignoring the fact he used my full name and title, just as I did him. "What are you doing here anyway?"

The grin from his face quickly faded into a frown, "May we speak in private?"

I then looked down at Estel who looked up at me.

"Estel, why don't you go on and get ready for dinner?"

"Is Prince Legolas going to stay for dinner?"

"Oh no, I'm sure Prince Legolas has more important things-"

"Actually," Legolas started, getting down to eye level with Estel. "I would love to stay for dinner, Estel."

A giant smile appeared on the young boys' face, as he looked back up to me waiting for a replay.

"Well, in that case you better go tell your mother to add another plate to the table."

"Okay." He said, handing me his sword as he passed Legolas and started running up the stairs.

"Do you have any idea, what you have just gotten yourself into?" I asked laughing.

"No, but I am sure I will find out soon." Legolas replied with a grin on his face as well, as we both watched Estel until he was out of earshot range did Legolas speak again. "He must be very important."

"I'm sorry?" I asked looking back at him.

"Lord Elrond must have saw something in him, one does not usually see a human living in the land of Elves. Who is he?"

"That is for me to know, and for my father to tell you if he wishes.-Why are you here, Legolas? Has something happened?"

"Oh no, it is nothing you need to worry yourself with, I only came to see you."

(I'll just wait two hundred years first.)

"In your last letter you wrote that Tauriel has been made Captain of the Mirkwood Guard." I said changing the subject. "That is quite an accomplishment."

"Yes, I have the pleaser of joining her every once in awhile. Her company is comforting."

(I'm too late.)

"An 'Elleth' like her, I could see why."

"She is nothing like you."

"I would hope so, there is only one like me."

"I fear our forest is sick, spiders have just about consumed the forest."

"Spiders? Why have they returned?"

"I wish I knew."

There was a moment of silence between us, the crickets chirping was the only thing breaking that, until I found something to talk about.

"Why did you leave your duties in Mirkwood just to come all this way and see me? Obviously, there are more important things going on."

"Depends upon your definition of important. May I not see how an old friend is doing?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Its been over two hundred years, Legolas."

"Two hundred and thirty-one." He replied in a heart beat.

(He counted?)

"After what happened, in the Hidden Valley-" Legolas continued, but I quickly interrupted.

"You do not need to explain yourself, Legolas. I appreciate your thought of my wellbeing - was it by the Kings' orders that you came?"

"I'm afraid it is the opposite actually." he said looking at the ground, as we walked. "My father does not wish for me to come back," he continued looking back up at me. "-he sees you have quite the reputation for getting into trouble."

"I do not go looking for trouble, if that's what he thinks, trouble usually finds me." I said as I tucked the loose strands of my hair from my face to my ear. "I'm starting to think I am cursed."

"Lìvia, what happened that night was not your fault, and you certainly are not cursed."

"It might as well have been, it was my idea to leave Rivendell." I told him, not able to look him in the eyes.

Legolas stopped, wrapping his hand around my arm, causing me to stop as well, forcing me to face him.

"Did you know it was going to happen?"

For the first time in over two hundred years, someone finally asked me that question.

(Does he think that?)

"What?"

"Did you know?"

"No, -" I said probably a little too fast and a bit defensibly. "I would have never put you in harms way."

"Then it was not your fault." he stated, letting go of my arm and started walking a bit forward.

"That's not the point, Legolas."

"Of course it is." he said turning back around. "What more is there? You can not keeping blaming yourself, Lìvia!"

"I can blame myself all I want, thank you very much!" I shouted taking a step forward towards him.

"Why?!" he shouted back, as he to took a step towards me.

(Because I saw you die!) I wanted to shout back, but I didn't, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Just the thought of it almost brought me to tears.

Our faces were centimeters from each other. I could practically feel his hot breath on my face.

"Because - because I can." I whispered, taking a few steps back from him.

Legolas took a deep breath, exhaled then he spoke, "If anyone is going to blame themselves it should be me."

I could not believe my ears, (Why would he blame himself?)

"You? Why-"

"Please, do not make me spell it out. You almost died Lìvia, and I - I couldn't protect you."

Silence, fell again, the only thing making any noise were the crickets, until I found my voice once again.

"Why didn't you say something, Legolas?"

He bowed his head, giving a short laugh, "You never gave me a chance." he said looking back up at me.

Guilt. Guilt washed over me. I never gave him the chance to say anything. I was too much of a coward to face him, when he was here. I've ruined everything.

(What do you even say after that?)

Night was falling and the fireflies were starting to come out, lighting up the gardens, and soon so would be the moon. We then started walking back to the courtyard.

"You defined your Kings' orders and came anyway. Should I feel special?"

He smiled, "Very, for when I return home I shall be in tremendous trouble."

"Like I said, "trouble usually finds me"."

"Only when I am with you."

"That can be arranged, if you wish."

Legolas then took my hands into his as we both looked into each other eyes, "I would not change it for the world."

~~~

At dinner Estel asked Legolas many questions, and Legolas answered the best he could. After dinner had ended Legolas quickly left to return home, promising that he would write to me if his father did not kill him.

A couple of weeks had passed since Legolas visited Rivendell, and I finally received his letter. He was once again going against his Adas' wishes writing to me. He explained it will be another long time till we could see each other again, and how he will count the days till he sees me again.

Then I to shall count the days till I see him again.

~~~

The days in Rivendell were peaceful, too peaceful, sad to say I'm starting to get, in a way, bored. Funny, you'd think I would have enough adventures for a life time - and then some.

Another sunny day rises, and today Elladan and Elrohir were training Estel at the archery range, I decided to stay in, sitting in my desk chair, looking into a hand mirror I watched as my fingers traced where those marks that scared my face long ago.

(And you never would have known.)

It was midday before I left my room meeting the warm sun, and the distanced sound of humming. I quickly headed in the direction of the humming, until I saw someone dressed in gray and a bread to match.

"Gandalf?"

"Ah, yes it is I, Lady Lìvian."

"It is good to see you again, Gandalf." I said, hugging the wizard.

"To you as well my dear, I was just about to come and look for you."

"What for?" I asked, looking back at him.

"I was hoping you would accompany me on an adventure."

(Ah, the Valar have heard my prayers!)

"What adventure do you have in mind?"

~~~~

End of Book 1