As she and Haldir approached the tents, Ellie�s pulse quickened when she caught sight of
Legolas in shirtsleeves, without his jerkin. He stood with his back to them, talking quietly
with Aragorn and Boromir. The thin, shimmery silk of his long shirt hugged his beautiful
body, stretching tightly over muscled shoulders, arms and back, before flaring at the hips.
To Ellie he was perfection itself. Her face lit up with love and desire, and she felt slightly
breathless, as a delicate blush spread throughout her body, making her shine all the more
bright. Walking arm in arm with her, a bemused Haldir felt Ellie�s arousal to the very
core of his being.
Boromir was the first one to notice the approaching pair, and he abruptly stopped what he
was saying to gape at the beautiful girl. Seeing his reaction, a curious Legolas turned
around�and was stunned. He had always thought her lovely, even with her tattered
clothes and bedraggled state, but he never imagined her beauty to rival that of the fairest
Elves. Yet his eyes did not deceive him now. Ellie was exquisite. And just like her father
before him, Legolas was rendered speechless. The girl and the Elven prince stared at one
another, mesmerized, and for a moment the world ceased to exist around them.
So he loves her too Haldir noted, with some trepidation, as he recalled what had
happened with Naia, but also with genuine joy that Ellie�s affection was returned.
After sharing an amused look with Boromir, Aragorn finally broke the silence. �Lady
Elanae, you are a vision to behold.� Then he gallantly bowed to the girl.
Suddenly self-conscious, Ellie giggled, and then went on to formally introduce Haldir�
as her father�to Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir. While they exchanged pleasantries, she
looked around for the first time since arriving and noticed that, except for Legolas, the
two men and Frodo, everyone else was asleep.
The little hobbit was sitting off to one side looking forlorn and lost in thought. Ellie�s
heart ached for him because she knew he was thinking of Gandalf. Seeking to comfort
him�for she still felt the wizard�s heartbeat inside of her�she excused herself from the
others and went to join Frodo at the base of the mallorn tree. Thinking that perhaps the
Elves might want to talk about the girl now that she was out of earshot, the two men
likewise excused themselves.
Haldir and Legolas had been acquainted with one another for hundreds of years (indeed,
Legolas was the older of the two by at least a millenium), but this was the first time the
two had faced each other as a father and a would-be suitor. Legolas eyed the younger Elf
coolly, with a closed _expression on his face, and waited.
Haldir returned his cool stare, then shrugged and nodded his head in Ellie�s direction.
�One would think that being half-Elven, she would have our ears or, at the very least, our
height,� he chuckled. �Instead she is the very image of her mother�� And then�just for
a second�his eyes took on a wistful, faraway look, but the other Elf caught it.
�Do you think of her often?� Legolas asked, referring to Ellie�s mother.
�Often enough. But whereas in the beginning my heart was filled with pain and bitterness
at Naia�s betrayal, it has for many years now also been filled with the warmth of
remembered love.�
�Do you regret loving her, Haldir?� Legolas now asked, his eyes intent on the other Elf�s
face.
�No,� Haldir replied without hesitation. �Even without Ellie, given the opportunity to do
things over, I would still choose to love Naia�to possess her�if only for a moment.�
Legolas nodded thoughtfully.
And as Ellie made her way back to them, Haldir pressed his shoulder and gave him a
sympathetic smile, for he understood the other Elf�s ambivalence. �Ellie is worth it,
Legolas. She is her mother�and also much more��
That night when Ellie lay down in her usual place beside Jamie, Legolas surprised her by
placing his pillow next to hers. She turned to face him with puzzled eyes, even as her
heart started to race.
�Our time together will soon be over, Ellie�and I just wanted to be near you,� he
whispered, as he reached over to caress her cheek.
The girl snuggled close to the Elf and a delicious heat enveloped them both. And then,
because she had to share it with him, she whispered, �Legolas, my mother loved my
father. I know that now.�
�Is that so surprising?�
�It is not our way,� she reminded him. �Such love is forbidden to Ilissans because there is
no future in it.�
�Your mother left him��
�Yes. She tried to stay true to her vows. And yet, right before she died, she faltered. She
told me about Lothlorien.�
�Because of Haldir,� he guessed.
�Yes. Because she loved him,� she asserted. Then Ellie pressed her face against his neck,
and said in a voice so muffled that even his keen ears had to strain to understand her
words, �Just as I love you��
Legolas wrapped his arms tightly around her slender body and buried his face in her
thick, curling hair. �Ah, little one,� he sighed, �I fear this thing between us is going to
end in heartache for both of us.� Ellie said nothing and he pulled back a little so that he
could watch her face closely, �Tell me, Ellie, if I leave you with child and survive the
Fellowship�s quest, will you still expect me to stay away? Or, can there be a future for
us?�
�I don�t know,� she whispered, �I just don�t know anymore.� And truly she didn�t.
Traditions that she had been brought up to believe in, and hold sacred, had been swept
away in a matter of days. For not only had she discovered that she was in love with
Legolas, but also that her own mother had been in love with Haldir and had set in motion
the means by which Ellie could be united with him. And now Ellie had a father who
would henceforth be a part of her life�something unheard of among the Ilissans�and
something she was delighted about (to her surprise). But could she take the final step and
accept Legolas as a mate who would remain a part of her life and that of her daughter?
Unlike Naia, Ellie would not die and leave her daughter alone in the world. If she were to
accept a future with Legolas, it would mean a repudiation of her Ilissan heritage and
sisterhood, a breaking of the vow she had made to her dead mother�And she was not
sure she could take that step, no matter how much she loved the Elf.
Legolas somberly watched as Ellie�s eyes filled with tears, and he took pity on her, for he
was well aware of the depth of her torment. �Forget that I asked you this, Ellie. Just go to
sleep here in my arms.�
But Ellie did not sleep�at least not right away�for he covered her face and her lips with
feather-light kisses, and caressed her hair and her back with gentle hands. On and on he
soothed her in this manner, until she completely melted away. Blissfully cocooned in
Legolas� strong arms, she felt cherished and safe and finally at peace. As if nothing could
ever hurt her again. And with a dreamy smile on her lips, Ellie eventually fell asleep.
For Legolas sleep did not come at all. He had thought he could control his body�s
reaction to her nearness, for they were not alone and his heart was heavy with sorrow at
the thought of their parting. But, to his surprise, he found himself consumed by the same
raging fire, the same intense craving as that time on the mountain. The feel of her small
body lying next to his was nothing short of torture, and yet there was no other place that
he would rather her be. And so, he continued to hold her closely, and pet her and kiss her,
but was careful not to press his hips against her lest she become aware of just how
aroused he was.
Later, he watched over her as she slept peacefully in his arms. She looked incredibly
young and vulnerable, her lush hair draped over her body like a blanket, and her skin so
translucent that he could see the vein throbbing in her temple. He envisioned her in years
to come, loving him but choosing the solitary life of an Ilissan, having to seek another
mate to give her a daughter. Would she choose Jamie? Or would she choose another Elf
to secure her child�s immortality? Either way, the thought of her lying with another was
unbearable to him. For that night Legolas came to realize that he loved Ellie dearly, more
than he could ever have imagined loving someone. He decided he would love her
completely on their last day together. And perhaps�just perhaps�by making her his, he
would be able to bind her to him for all time. And she would ask him to return.
Ellie woke up to find her head pillowed on Legolas� shoulder, and his arms wrapped
tightly around her. For several minutes she didn�t move, enjoying the feel of his hard
body so close to hers, but he sensed that she was awake.
�Good morning, love,� he finally whispered against her hair, and lifted her chin with one
hand so that he could kiss her, and Ellie felt great joy to know that she was loved and
cherished by the beautiful Elf.
But her joy did not last. Already Jamie was stirring beside them, and as Ellie finally
became aware of her surroundings, a profound sadness settled in her heart�for it was the
last day the Fellowship would be in Lothlorien. And the pain of their imminent departure
�particularly Legolas��cut her deeply.
Just as the last of the hobbits awoke, Haldir and his brothers (her uncles!) arrived, laden
with food trays that they set down beneath the great mallorns. They greeted Ellie warmly,
touching her face in the Elven manner, before inviting the others to join them for
breakfast. As they ate, the group discussed the challenges that lay ahead for the
Fellowship. Together they plotted strategies and planned routes, and although Ellie and
Jamie spoke little, they remained at their friends� side the entire time. Legolas� brilliant
eyes often met her gaze, and she noticed that they too were now tinged with sadness.
As the morning slipped into afternoon, Ellie was increasingly troubled for another reason.
A terrible sense of foreboding was steadily growing inside of her. She believed that the
Fellowship was headed for disaster. And when Boromir approached her to talk, she knew
it for a fact�for when she looked into his pale gray eyes, she had clear visions of trust
betrayed, honor redeemed in combat�and death. The Fellowship would be broken and
the valiant lord of Gondor would not survive the quest. Overcome with sorrow, Ellie
suddenly hugged the man fiercely, shocking them both, as well as Legolas, who was
standing nearby and who raised his brows enquiringly. But Ellie lowered her head and
walked away from them both.
After exchanging a puzzled glance with Boromir, Legolas followed the girl. Neither
spoke at first, but when they were some distance away from the others, the Elf grasped
her arm, stopping her, and turned her to face him. He could feel her distress.
�What is it, Ellie?�
The girl raised tumultuous eyes to him, but she was unable to speak of her vision. It was
too painful, and Ellie knew it could not be undone. And as she looked into Legolas�
concerned eyes, a cold, numbing fear filled her heart and mind�a fear that something
terrible would happen to him too. Still, as the seconds passed, no such premonition came,
and yet, not surprisingly, this gave her little comfort. For the Sight had failed her once
before, to tragic consequences.
�It is better never to love at all!� she blurted out harshly, shocking him again, as she
turned to run back to the others. Legolas frowned.
The Elf knew that much more than their impending separation was troubling Ellie, but as
long as she refused to confide in him, he was powerless to help her. Legolas was worried.
Not only did she purposely ignore him for the remainder of the afternoon, but when the
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel requested another audience with the Fellowship�this
time to present them with parting gifts�Ellie chose to stay behind. And when Jamie and
the eight companions returned to their tents, she was nowhere to be found.
After putting down his new bow and quiver (princely gifts from the Lady Galadriel) by
his things, Legolas set out in search of the girl. He might have had to search for the better
part of the night if it had not been for Haldir. Ellie�s father had sensed his daughter�s
growing distress throughout the day and had seen her walk away in tears earlier that
evening.
�Come, Legolas, I will show you where she is,� he said quietly, as he intercepted the
other Elf.
Haldir led him in silence to the very edge of Caras Galadhon, where the great mallorn
trees gave way to gently sloping meadows. There, Legolas found Ellie sitting atop a
moonlit hill. She looked so forlorn that the Elf�s heart gave a painful lurch as he
approached and sat down beside her.
�Were you going to let me leave without as much as saying goodbye, Ellie?�
The girl raised wide, wet eyes to his and shook her head in denial, even as she admitted,
�I don�t know�� And then she leaned against his shoulder and told him about Boromir,
crying quiet tears for the doomed man.
�Legolas, I can do nothing. And I am afraid, so afraid, for you. That is why I behaved the
way I did. I am sorry.�
The Elf looked down at her for a long moment, and then extended a hand to her face. And
as he caressed her wet cheeks, he softly said, �I have been alive a long time, Ellie.
Several thousand years, in fact. And although in life there are no guarantees, I do not
believe I will be dying anytime soon. But even if I do, it is only to be re-born again. Elves
are immortal. You and I are immortal.�
The girl nodded, for she realized that what he said was true. And then he totally surprised
her by saying, �I will lay with you, if you still will it.�
Ellie drew in a deep breath and stared at him in disbelief. �You mean to give yourself to
me freely, without commitment?�
The Elf nodded back, with just a hint of a smile.
�Buy why?� she asked, stunned, as her eyes lit up with renewed hope and joy�where
seconds before there had been only fear and sorrow. She knew it was selfish of her, but
she wanted his daughter.
Legolas turned his face away, and as she stared at his chiseled profile, he replied,
�Because, despite what I have told you, I would rather leave here having known you
once, than never having known you at all. But, Ellie, you must understand,� he said,
looking at her once again, �you still might not conceive. Such a thing does not happen
every time.�
Ellie grabbed hold of his hand and smiled�a sweet, knowing smile that left him
suddenly breathless. �With your seed inside of me, I can make it happen. If you lay with
me, Legolas, you will give me a daughter.� Then she kneeled in front of him, her face
level with his, and fervently kissed his cheeks and mouth and chin and nose and forehead.
The Elf spread his legs and prodded her forward until her small body rested against his.
Ellie entwined her hands with his long blonde hair and continued to kiss him.
�Thank you, Legolas, thank you,� she breathed against his mouth.
The Elf pulled back a little and cupped her face. �Do you have any idea what you do to
me? What I want to do to you? Do not thank me yet, Ellie!� he warned her with a wicked
grin, and he buried his face in her neck. As he feverishly kissed and sucked on her tender
skin, his hands moved underneath her hair to the hooks on the back of her dress. He
desperately wanted Ellie naked in his arms.
Legolas undid the top hooks and pushed the garment off her shoulders, as he gently
massaged them. Then he traced her fragile collarbone with his tongue and pressed his lips
to the pulse beating wildly at the base of her throat, biting down softly. Ellie gasped at the
feel of his teeth, as a searing heat settled in her belly.
Then the Elf lowered her dress to her elbows, imprisoning her arms, and exposing her
small breasts. His hands caressed the tender mounds, before his fingers ruthlessly
squeezed the rosy tips. Ellie moaned�loudly�and bright red blush�visible even in the
moonlight�spread throughout her body. Legolas raised dangerous, amused eyes to her
face, then took her mouth captive. His lips were teasing, warm and moist, making her
body quiver with delight. But before long, his kiss deepened into something darker, more
demanding as he ravaged her soft lips and plundered the inside of her mouth with his
tongue. Ellie slid her arms out of the sleeves of her dress, and raised her hands, burying
her fingers in his scalp while she passionately kissed him back.
She didn�t stop kissing him even when he lowered them both to the ground. And as they
lay side by side on the soft, fragrant grass, Legolas finished unfastening the hooks of her
gown. Ellie impatiently wriggled out of the filmy garment. Her pale skin glowed snow-
white in the moonlight, contrasting sharply with the darkness of her long hair and the
triangle at the apex of her legs. Legolas grabbed the girl�s shoulders and moved back
from her so that he could get a better look. She took his breath away. �You are so
beautiful, Ellie.�
By now Ellie had been reduced to an almost-mindless, throbbing lump of flesh, and her
slender hips arched brazenly toward him without her even being aware of it. Legolas
smiled wickedly and met her startled gaze as he gently cupped her crotch. She felt as if a
lightning bolt had struck her insides and she leaned into his hand. He began to rub her
back and forth, his fingers gently probing, until Ellie exploded, throwing her arm around
him and shuddering violently against him. Legolas held her tightly until her tremors
subsided. Then he tenderly kissed her mouth and stood up.
At first Ellie couldn�t utter a word, couldn�t even move, for her senses were reeling from
the intense pleasure he had given her. Now his blazing eyes bore into hers once again as
he slowly undid the clasps of his shirt and removed it, dropping it on the ground next to
her dress. It was now Ellie�s turn to be mesmerized by his beauty.
Legolas was lean and sinewy, and his fair skin seemed as smooth as the silk shirt he had
just discarded. Ellie stood up on shaky legs, for she couldn�t resist touching him, and he
shuddered at the feel of her small hot hands softly exploring his bare chest. She finally
found her voice. �Legolas, you are perfect,� she whispered in awe, � and�I want to see
all of you too.�
The Elf was more than happy to oblige, for he was so painfully aroused, that he did not
think he could endure much longer without burying himself inside the girl�s body.
Legolas bent over to unlace his boots and Ellie went down on her knees to help him. As
she pulled first one and then the other boot from his feet, he unfastened his pants, and she
came face to face with his erection. Ellie sat back, mouth agape, and for a moment had
second thoughts about the whole affair. As Legolas stepped out of his pants, she raised
slightly panicky eyes to his face.
�Legolas, this isn�t going to work. We will never fit��
He laughed and knelt down in front of her. �We�ll fit perfectly, Ellie,� he reassured her,
then tenderly kissed her. And once he lay her back on the soft grass and started to woo
her again with his warm lips and his knowing, roving hands and his beautiful body,
Ellie�s apprehension was swept clear away. And before too long she knew the exquisite
pain and rapture of having Legolas sheathed deep inside of her.
It was like nothing either had experienced before. There was fire, yes, and mindless
pleasure, and deep satisfaction, but, above all else, there was a sense of utter belonging,
of having found their niche in the world, of being right where they were supposed to be.
For that moment in time, they were no longer two separate beings, but rather two halves
of a whole, and their souls rejoiced.
�I love you, Legolas,� she told him later when their bodies had calmed and she lay
quietly nestled in his arms under the moonlit sky.
Legolas tightened his arms around her. �I love you too, little one.� And silently his heart
begged Ellie, my love, do not tear us apart.
They parted many hours later, just as the moon began to set, for Ellie wanted privacy to
bring her child into being. And so, when Legolas rose to return to Caras Galadhon, she
chose to stay behind. He looked down at her with troubled eyes.
�The Fellowship will depart at dawn,� he reminded her. Ellie nodded, but did not promise
that she would be there, nor did she ask him to return once the quest was over, as he had
hoped. Legolas� heart was threatening to break.
He abruptly grabbed her shoulders and kissed her roughly, before turning and walking
away. She did not see the tears welling in his eyes, but she sensed them. And as Ellie
stared at his retreating form, she whispered, too softly and too late for him to hear, �My
heart will be with you always, even if I am not.�
After he disappeared into the trees, Ellie sat down and placed her hands over her womb,
calling to his seed, and directing her cells to make the daughter she yearned for�the one
who would continue her Ilissan line. She could see this daughter�tall and slender,
possessing all the grace and beauty of the Elves, with brilliant blue eyes and dark silky
hair, and, yes, she could just make out pointed ears! Ellie smiled. But even as her body
began to respond to the call of her hands, Legolas� face came unbidden into her mind,
and her smile faltered.
Suddenly, she was assaulted by images of Legolas. She recalled that first day, when his
cold beauty had taken her breath away even as she threatened him with his knife, then
later in the forest when he lay on top of her after their struggle and stared into her eyes,
his flawless face marred by her nails. She saw his eyes fill with wonder when he realized
she was a touch-healer. She remembered his tender smiles and genial laughter during
their long conversations when they were starting to get to know each other. She recalled
how he looked and felt that night on the mountain, when he was overcome by lust, and
later by concern and regret and anger. She saw him in the Mines of Moria, as he wielded
his weapons with deadly precision and savage beauty in defense of the Fellowship, and
she recalled his grim look when he meant to take her life to spare her the horror of
captivity. Finally, she remembered his face as she had seen it earlier that evening and the
night before�a face that mirrored his intense love and longing for her�a face that could
not veil his sorrow at their parting.
Before the task in her womb could be completed, Ellie stayed her hands.
CHAPTER NINE: Partings and New Beginnings
Legolas did not sleep that night for his emotions were in turmoil and a small part of him
still hoped that Ellie would return. But she did not. In the pre-dawn hour, the rest of the
Fellowship, including Jamie, arose and joined him for an early breakfast. Legolas
remained outwardly calm and impassive as he spoke with his companions, but they were
all well aware of the Elf�s attachment to Ellie and were worried by the girl�s continued
absence and his seeming indifference. Even Jamie could sense that something was
terribly wrong.
As night waned and became day, the eight companions loaded three Elven boats with
supplies and prepared to depart. Many came to bid them farewell, among them the Lord
and Lady of Lorien, Haldir and his brothers, and the boy Jamie, who had scarcely left
their side since their arrival in the Golden Wood and had helped them with the packing
and the loading. But of Ellie there was no sign. Each time Legolas and his companions
scanned the faces of those gathered along the riverbank, hers was nowhere to be seen.
Although he did not show it, Legolas was overcome with pain and grief. He had made
Ellie his. He had gambled and given her what she had wanted. And now he had lost her
forever. It was too much to bear�
But then, just as he turned toward his boat, he heard a cry: �Legolas!� And as he looked
back, Ellie was suddenly there, running out of the forest. His heart leaped up as the girl
jumped into his arms.
�Legolas,� she said, trying to catch her breath, �I want you to know�I wanted to tell
you�that I�ll be waiting.� She gave him a wobbly smile. �When all is over and your
mission completed�if you want to return to me�I�ll be right here waiting for you!�
Legolas searched her face, hardly daring but desperately wanting to believe what she was
saying. And what he saw was the glowing face of a young girl happy and in love.
�I�ll wait for you,� she repeated.
And he gave her a beautiful smile, tenderly placing a hand over her womb. �You and our
daughter,� he softly said.
But Ellie shook her head and his smile was replaced by a puzzled frown. Then Ellie
laughed merrily and wrapped her arms around his neck.
�Not our daughter, Legolas our SON.�
