[ Leave Some Love | Wild-N-Crazy Women ]
Posted by Shelly on June 20, 2004, 4:14 pm, in reply to "TWotR: Fellowships & Relationships {3/12}" Illuminaria was awakened the next morning by a hand gently shaking her. "The hobbit still sleeps," Gandalf's deep voice said. "You should go rest in your own quarters. I'm here now to relieve you." "It's no trouble to sit with him," she replied gazing up at the wizard. "You are very kind child, but Frodo is like my own kin," Gandalf replied with a kind smile. "I feel obligated to sit with him, as did Master Samwise." Illuminaria stood and stretched, allowing Gandalf to take her place in the chair. "Would you mind if I kept you company," she asked. "Not at all," he replied thankful for the companionship. Illuminaria pulled a chair over to the foot of the bed and sat down. She gazed at the small creature in the bed and sighed. "He's so tiny," she said finally. "He seems so...frail." "It's the effects of the Morgul blade," Gandalf replied gazing at the hobbit with love. "It weakens whomever is the recipient of the wound." He smiled at her and began to tell her all about the Shire and the hobbits. He was just getting to the story of Bilbo and the dragon when a small moan came from Frodo. Both Gandalf and Illuminaria held their breath in anticipation. "Where am I," Frodo groaned. Getting to her feet Illuminaria told Gandalf she was going to fetch Sam and left. Moments later she stood in the doorway to Frodo's room watching as Sam fawned over his companion. A wide smile formed on her lips as she saw how much love and loyalty Sam had for Frodo. "He's awake," a soft voice asked from behind her, startling her. Turning around she saw Legolas peering into the room. "Yes," Illuminaria said. "I must alert Master Meriadoc and Master Peregrin of their friend's awakening at once." She made to walk away, but turned back to him looking in his eyes. "After that...perhaps we could take a walk?" He smiled and nodded following her to Merry and Pippin's room. Once again they sat by the waterfall and watched the sunlight glint off the ripples in the water. They sat for hours in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company and the sounds of the woods around them. "It is so beautiful here," Illuminaria finally said with a sigh. "I hate to leave it." "Why would you leave," Legolas asked with a frown. "I just thought that....well....I've been healed and Lord Elrond has been ever so gracious as to provide room and board for me, but....I don't want to overstay my welcome," she replied and looked into his deep blue eyes, seeing the pain her words had caused. "You can not overstay your welcome," he said caressing her face. "You are an elf and elves are always welcome in elven homes." She smiled as her heart began to beat faster. His touch making her skin tingle. "Legolas," Aragorn called. He found the young elves together and immediately felt a pang of guilt, for he had come to take Legolas to the Council of Elrond. "I am very sorry to interrupt, but Lord Elrond has requested your presence. The council will start soon." With those words spoken Aragorn turned and went back to the house. Legolas looked at Illuminaria and saw that her face was etched with worry. "After the council we will spend more time together." Taking her hand in his he placed his lips upon her knuckles and kissed them softly. "Until then," he said with a smile and left for the council. Illuminaria was sitting by the hearth talking with Arwen when Aragorn and Legolas approached them. Both of their faces were sullen and etched with worry. "What is it," Arwen asked. Aragorn held out a hand for her and she took it allowing him to lead her away. Legolas sighed and took Arwen's seat. "What is it," Illuminaria asked, her heart filling with dread. "The Ring of Power has been found," he said softly. "Sauron the deciever is searching for it. A fellowship of nine has been formed to take it to the fiery depths of Mount Doom where the ring can be unforged forever." He sighed and looked her in the eye. "I'm one of the nine." Illuminaria's heart shattered into a million shards. "We will be setting off in two days time. That hardly seems like enough time to spend with one I feel I have come to love so dearly." Tears sprang to her eyes and she tried in vain to hold them back. As the first teardrop escaped down her cheek she managed to ask, "Who has decided this?" "All nine of us," Legolas replied. "Frodo, the ringbearer, and his halfling friend and kin, Gandalf the Grey, Gimli son of Gloin, Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, Aragorn and I. Lord Elrond did, however, approve of it." Before he could say anymore Illuminaria was on her feet and marched out of the room, leaving Legolas to wonder where she was headed. Bursting into the room where Elrond was holding council with some other elves she glared at him. "Illuminaria, I do not know what manners your people have, but around here we ask permission before barging into a private room," Elrond said ignoring the anger blazing in her dark eyes. "You can not allow him to go," she said. "You can not let Legolas go on this pointless journey." "And why not," Elrond asked, suddenly intrigued by the she-elf's tone. "You can not let the man who saved my life go forth to his own demise," she said as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. "Not when I've started to fall in love with him." Motioning for the other elves to leave the room, Elrond stood and pulled Illuminaria into his arms. "My child," he said softly. "This pointless journey, as you have called it, is necessary to keep the free lands of Middle-Earth free. Do you not see that if we do nothing and the ring is returned to Sauron all will be lost. Whether Legolas went on this journey or not will not matter if it comes to that. Middle-Earth as we know it will be destroyed if Sauron is allowed to come into power again." Illuminaria was openly sobbing in Elrond's arms now. "Then you must allow me to go with them," she choked out, pulling away from him. "You must allow me to join the fellowship." Elrond's eyes widened at her statement. "I'm afraid I can not allow that," he said flatly. "Your place is with your people and your people are leaving the wood and heading to the west. That is where you must go, that is where we all must go." "My place is with the man I love and if you will not allow me to leave with him in two days time then I will go without your leave," she said grinding the tears out of her eyes. "I will not sit back and wait for the pain of heartbreak to strike me down. I would rather be with my love than to sit idly by while he faces perils beyond compare." "Father," came a voice from the doorway. Turning towards it they saw Arwen standing there, tear streaks could be seen on her cheeks for Aragorn had told her the same news Legolas had told Illuminaria. "She is right. You know that as well as I do. Should Legolas fall in battle the pain of her loss would surely bring her to death's door. I know because I too share the same fear for Aragorn." Elrond opened his mouth to say something, but Arwen waved him off. "I know that my place is here with you. I am not asking that you let me go as well. The love Aragorn and I share will withstand the test of this war, but Illuminaria and Legolas' love is just blossoming. Do not let it it be crushed before it has the chance to bloom." Elrond sighed and looked at his daughter long and hard. "If it is true that Middle-Earth is doomed to fall should the fellowship fail then what difference would one more elf make in the grand scheme of things?" Elrond sighed loudly. "You speak much truth, my daughter," he said finally. "Illuminaria, though it pains me to say this, you may go with the fellowship. Your leaving will leave me with a heavy heart, for though I only just met you some days ago, I have come to love you like a daughter." He held out his arms for her and she allowed him to embrace her. "Stay close to Gandalf, Aragorn and Legolas for I know that they will protect you with their lives." He kissed the crown of her head and watched with a heavy heart as she left the room.
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