Chapter 2: In the Garden Chapter 2: In the Garden

Legolas was very quiet through dinner after Elenî and the children left the table. Both Aragorn and Arwen noticed this and were beginning to worry.

‘Is there something wrong, Legolas?’ asked Arwen. ‘You’ve been quiet for some time now and hardly touched your dessert. Do you not like it?’

Startled by her voice, Legolas glanced quickly at the Queen. ‘Oh, it’s nothing Arwen. I’m fine. And the custard is delicious.’ He gave a small smile to reassure her.

As he took a spoonful of his dessert, Arwen excused herself from the table, taking her husband with her around a corner.

‘I’m beginning to think Legolas has a crush on Elenî,’ she said quietly.

Aragorn smiled at his wife. ‘I know. Perhaps we should help them along. They both deserve to be happy.’

When they had returned to the table, Legolas had finished his dessert and thanked them for their kindness.

‘Shall we take a walk in the garden, darling?’ Aragorn asked Arwen casually. ‘Perhaps we shall see Elenî.’

‘She likes the gardens?’ Legolas asked. He was trying to be nonchalant and failing miserably.

Aragorn nodded. ‘Yes, she walks in them every night after dinner. Why do you ask?’

‘Mere curiosity.’ Stuttering, Legolas excused himself and rushed from the room.

Chuckling, Aragorn asked, ‘Did I ever chase after you when our love was new, dear?’

‘Yes Estel, you followed me for a week after you met me before you had to leave.’ Arwen smiled at the memory. ‘Come now, it is time to see Gâlae and celebrate her birthday. Leave Legolas to himself. You can ask him what happened tomorrow.’

After leaving his friends, Legolas went to the palace gardens looking for Elenî. He found her looking at a blue flower. He stood a few feet away from her, just watching, entranced by her beauty. She was humming a tune to herself as she walked along. Taking a deep breath, he called, ‘Elenî!’

She turned and looked at him, startled. ‘Prince Legolas, I wasn’t expecting anyone. I like to look at the flowers and think.’ She paused and looked at the ground. Looking up, she asked hesitantly, ‘W-would you like to join me?’

Legolas smiled. ‘Yes, I would, and please call me Legolas. There’s no need to stand upon ceremony: it’s just the two of us.’

Taking her arm in his, he led a very surprised Elenî down the path towards a flowering bush. It had the most beautiful pink flowers on it that she had ever seen.

‘Out of all the plants and flowers in all the gardens, this bush is my favorite,’ Legolas told her.

‘It’s so beautiful,’ she said softly.

‘As are you,’ replied Legolas, flushing slightly. ‘I enjoyed spending time with you yesterday. You are so good with the children. You are very patient with them, especially Gâlae. And you are so beautiful and so gentle and loving and kind. How do you do it?’

It was Elenî’s turn to blush. Spotting a bench, she sat and pondered Legolas’ compliments. She wasn’t used to attention from any men other than the King and his son.

‘Elenî?’ Legolas inquired, sitting next to her. ‘Are you alright?’

Slowly, she looked at him and nodded. ‘I don’t get compliments very often,’ she responded quietly.’ Embarrassed, she turned her eyes downward.

The elf next to her studied her for a moment, wondering what he should do. Finally, he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to look at his.

‘Perhaps you just haven’t found the right person to pay you compliments,’ he whispered.

‘You are handsome, Legolas, and kind and gentle. You treat the King’s children as if they were your own. But I am just a servant girl. Shouldn’t you be out courting princesses instead of sitting in a garden with me?’ Elenî stood up abruptly and walked away.

Legolas followed and caught her by the arm. ‘Elenî, you are the only princess I want. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I want to spend more time with you, not some princess who doesn’t care about what I say. Please Elenî, don’t run away from me.’

He was holding her hand now, waiting for her to speak. She turned slowly to face him. Looking in his eyes, she found only compassion and concern; there was none of disgust that she had expected. Legolas could see she was fearful. He put a hand on her hip and drew her closer to him. Leaning in, he pressed his lips gently to hers.

Elenî gasped a little at the sensation of Legolas’ lips against hers. Finding she wasn’t afraid, she kissed him back. He pulled away a few seconds later and smiled at her.

‘I hope I didn’t frighten you,’ he said, stroking her hair.

Elenî smiled at him. ‘No,’ she told him softly. ‘I’ve never been kissed before.’

Legolas raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Never?’ he questioned.

Elenî shook her head. ‘Well perhaps I should kiss you again,’ Legolas murmured. Without letting her reply, he kissed her, longer and more passionately this time. Elenî felt like she was dreaming; she was standing in a garden kissing a handsome elf in the moonlight. They broke apart and Legolas held Elenî close to him. He was glad she had not rejected him or run away. He knew it was too soon to tell, but maybe he would marry her one-day.

Unbeknownst to them, Aragorn and Arwen had been watching the exchange from their balcony. They were happy the two elves had found each other and thought back to their own first meeting. They smiled at each other and returned to their bedchamber, leaving Legolas and Elenî alone.

The next morning, the King summoned Legolas to his private chamber. Sitting in front of his friend, Legolas waited for him to speak, wondering what the meeting was about. Much to his surprise, Aragorn asked how his meeting with Elenî had gone.

‘Elenî?’ Legolas pretended to not to know what Aragorn was talking about. ‘I did not see her last night. I went to bed after supper. I was very tired from my journey.’

‘You never were a good liar, my friend,’ Aragorn sighed. Legolas stayed silent. He had no intention of telling his friend or anyone else about the night’s adventure. Although Aragorn knew what had transpired, he wasn’t going to let the blonde elf off the hook that easily.

Legolas sighed, knowing full well Aragorn would not stop asking until he knew what had happened. ‘We simply walked through the garden and talked,’ he said. ‘Then I showed her my favorite flower and’ –he paused and blushed slightly- ‘we kissed.’

Aragorn looked at Legolas in mock shock and surprise. ‘Well, Legolas,’ he laughed, ‘you have not been here and entire day and already you are turning my kingdom upside down.’

Legolas laughed a little before changing the subject. ‘I have a favor to ask, if I may. I’d like some flowers from the garden.’

Aragorn frowned and Legolas feared the answer would be ‘no.’

‘You must ask Arwen for this favor,’ Aragorn replied finally. He had seen Arwen angry and did not wish to face her if he let Legolas go taking flowers from her beautiful gardens. The King visibly shuddered at the thought.

‘You are right, Aragorn,’ Legolas said. He knew what Aragorn was thinking. He, too, had seen Arwen angry and did not wish to risk her wrath by mutilating her gardens.

‘I believe she is in her garden,’ Aragorn informed him.

‘Thank you, Mellon nîn.’ Legolas jumped to his feet and started on his quest to find the Queen.