Fan Fiction ❯ Ripping Greenleaves ❯ Sweet Memory ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: If it isn't bloody obvious already, I do not own any LoTR characters.

Legolas Tip (Brought to you by Elrohir and Elladan)

"Elladan, what are you doing?" Elrohir asked, as he watched his brother flip through a book.

"Reading."

"What are you reading?"

"The Unofficial Guide to annoying, tormenting, and/or murdering Legolas." Elladan stated.

"Interesting."

"Yes, quite," Elladan said. "Want to read tip five?"

"Sure," Elrohir replied. "Tip five: never poke, gauge, or stab with a dull object. Forks can be especially useful."

"Forks can be useful for what?" Elladan asked.

"Considering it's written in this book....I don't want to know" Elrohir shuddered.

Chapter 5 -Sweet Memory-

Word of Gadwen arriving in Eastern Lórien quickly spread to Northern Eryn Lasgalen. Gadwen was expected to arrive at the Elven King's Halls in several days. The anticipation grew and many elves were excited for her homecoming. Save Legolas, who tried to look happy, but was actually dreading her return. He actually hadn't slept since he found out...

.

Minuial found herself anxiously waiting outside the Elven Halls, impatiently drumming her fingers on the bridge's railing. Her ears quickly caught the sound of footsteps. She excitingly took a step forwards, expecting to see Gadwen, but it was only a guard. She sighed in disappointed and turned back.

"Minuial, am I right to guess you're waiting for your sister?" the guard asked.

"Yes," Miniual replied.

"Then I'll give you some good news," the guard said. "While walking back, I spotted two elves riding towards the halls."

"Was one an elleth, the other an ellon?" she asked.

"Yes," the guard replied. " The elleth was rambling on and on about how she would rip apart the king's son."

"That's her!" Minuial exclaimed.

"I'm just wondering," the guard said. "Was she the elfling that always fought with Legolas?"

"Yes."

"When the wizard Radagast was conversing with Lord Thranduil, didn't she steal his staff?"

"That was she."

"Didn't she chase after Legolas, trying to beat him with it?"

"That, or trying to gauge his eyes out."

"Didn't she tie him to a tree? Then leave him there almost all night?" the guard asked.

Minuial thought for a moment.

"Luckily the spiders didn't take notice, but when a guard finally found the elfling, the poor elfling was trembling with fear."

"Hm...it was the other way around. Gadwen was tied to the tree."

"Ah, I see."

"Well, I must be off!" Minuial excused herself. "I must tell me mother and father about Gadwen's arrival."

.

Gadwen looked around at her surroundings. She had left his place long ago, when is was still called Mirkwood. Now it was renamed and things did seem a bit different. The air was no longer dense with burdens, more birds seemed to fly overhead, bringing their songs into the forest. More sunlight was slanting into the forest. But like before, lichen hung on the trees, and the all too familiar smell of the forest clung in the air.

"Things have changed, maybe not a lot, but things have changed." she whispered.

"For better or for worst?" Faelon asked.

"That, I don't know yet." Gadwen replied.

She watched curiously as three squirrels scurried onto the path, into the forest, then into a pile of leaves. Suddenly a memory started to arise in her.

-Flashback-

Gadwen was happily playing outside, minding her own business. She marveled at the new dress her mother had given her. It glittered in the sunlight as she twirled around. She gracefully danced and twirled, but stopped when she felt something cold run down her forehead. She quickly put her hand to her forehead, then withdrew it. Staining her hand was black ink.

"AH!" she screamed, as she patted her forehead and hair.

Her once blonde hair was now dripping with black ink. She furiously turned around, she wasn't surprised to find Legolas on the ground, laughing with a bottle of ink in his hand.

"LEGOLAS!" she shouted, and stormed angrily towards him.

Legolas couldn't get up because he was laughing so hard.

"You are the worst Wood-elf ever to be born!" she shouted.

Legolas finally composed himself and stood up. "Hello hill-troll."

If looks could kill, Legolas would be down on the ground twitching in fear. Gadwen sneered at the elfling and lifted her dress up.

"Ew, are you trying to seduce me?" Legolas asked, as he scrunched his face. "Please cover your leg. It's horrid."

Gadwen disobeyed, but unexpectedly pulled out a dagger. She evilly waved it around.

"Since when did you carry daggers?" Legolas nervously asked, and backed away slowly.

"Since I met you," Gadwen smiled innocently.

Legolas bolted away, needless to say, Gadwen followed. Legolas quickly led the dagger handling maiden into the forest.

"I'm surprised you can run this fast!" Legolas yelled out.

"Why is that?" Gadwen asked, still running after him with the dagger.

"Because you're the fattest elleth in Mirkwood!" Legolas cackled. "I swear the ground trembles with every step you make!"

Gadwen picked up her pace. She dodged the many tree branched in her way. Legolas was only a couple meters away from her. She saw a pile of leaves in front of her. Expecting to go right through it, she ran even faster, but a rock was hidden underneath the foliage and she fell with a sickening thud.

Legolas looked back and immediately stopped. The young elleth was on the ground grimacing in pain. He quickly ran over to her. Her hands were tightly clutching her knee. Even if this elleth had crossed him many times, he couldn't leave her in pain.

"May I?" Legolas asked.

Gadwen bit her lip, but yielded. She watched as he lifted her dress up to her knees. Both her knees were skinned and bleeding, so were her hands from trying to break the fall. She grimaced in pain as he touched her wound. She was still only an elfling, therefore, any type of pain would make her want to cry. But she didn't; never did she want to cry in front of her worst enemy.

Legolas stood up and held out his hand. "Let's get you to the warden."

Gadwen looked at his hand, but didn't take it. Instead she tried to get up by herself, but she kept falling back down.

"Don't be a fool!" Legolas said. "Just take my hand. I don't intend on leaving you here for the spiders! I still need to pay you back for all the pranks you pulled on me."

Gadwen looked at her torn dress and let out a little sob. Legolas tilted his head, he had never seen her wear this dress before.

"I can get the handmaidens to fix your dress, or give you a new one. Now hurry, I don't want a colony of spiders after us." Legolas said in a serious tone.

Gadwen summed up all the courage that dwelt in her and grabbed his hand. He gently pulled her up and put her arm him. Gadwen limped back to the Elven Halls. They both were silent as they walked back.

-End of flashback-

"Gadwen," Faelon whispered.

Gadwen stirred from her memory. "Yes?"

"We're close now," Faelon informed.

Gadwen looked ahead, she could see the bridge leading to the Elven King's Halls. On the other side of the bridge stood her mother, father, and sister. When she finally got across the bridge, she quickly ran over to her family.

"Naneth!" Gadwen quickly made her way towards her mother. She looked into her mother's eyes; still blue, but filled with so much wisdom. Her mother happily smiled and brought her into a hug.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you, far too long," her mother whispered and tighten her grip even more.

Gadwen's father stood close to her, watching her. "You're mother is right, it's been far too long."

"Adar," Gadwen whispered.

She hugged him tightly. It reminded her of the many times she would sit on his lap, hug him tightly, as he told her stories.

"You've grown so much!" her father chuckled.

Minuial was standing off to the side, trying to hold back her tears, but let out a little sob. Gadwen heard and turned to her sister.

"Must you cry at every event?" Gadwen laughed.

"I've just mis-" Minuial didn't bother to finish her sentence and quickly hugged Gadwen.

Then she withdrew herself and examined her younger sister.

"You've definitely gotten taller!" Minuial stated. "It's almost unusual. I bet it's the water in Lórien."

"Not, it's the wine," Gadwen whispered.

Minuial raised an eyebrow at her sister. She didn't know if she was jesting or being completely honest. Before Minuial could ask, the elven doors opened and Nenhiril came rushing out. Aradir followed behind her, but only poked his head out, and looked around.

"Nenhiril?" Gadwen said in surprise.

Nenhiril let out a squeal in excitement and pulled Gadwen into a suffocating hug. Gadwen let out a little laugh as Nenhiril started rambling on and on about how she missed her. Gadwen noticed an ellon standing near the door. At first, she didn't realize who it was, but soon remembered.

"Aradir, it's a pleasure to see you again," Gadwen quietly said. "You better take good care of my sister."

Aradir smiled. "I will definitely do so."

Gadwen politely nodded her head. Aradir did the same, then stepped away to reveal another elf standing behind him. Gadwen's eyes widened, her heart skipped a beat, the wind was knocked out of her, she could no longer hear Nenhiril's incessant rambling. It was him, the elf that titled her hill-troll. Yes, it was definitely him. He was standing right in front of her. She looked in his eyes, no longer were they filled with revenge. His eyes stirred with wisdom and kindness. His facial features were different, actually, physically he had changed to the point where Gadwen marveled at him.

Legolas had been quietly standing behind his best friend. He could hear Gadwen greeting everyone, strangely, it made him more anxious. He waited, until Aradir finally stepped away to reveal the elleth that had chased him around with daggers. His eyes quickly locked with hers; she still had that fiery passion burning in her eyes. He noted her height, taller, but not as tall as tall as he was. He was startled as he heard his name uttered from her mouth, then she slowly walked to wards him.

They both looked at each other. The image of Legolas standing peacefully, with a silver tunic that brought out his features, was etched into Gadwen's mind. The image of Gadwen standing, with the wind whipping her blonde hair was etched into Legolas' mind.

Gadwen, now, stood close to Legolas. She took in a deep breath.

"Annan le ú-gennin (I haven't seen you for a long time)," Legolas whispered. "Mae athollen (Welcome back)."

Legolas waited for a response. Everyone listen curiously, waiting for Gadwen's response. Aradir patiently waited. Minuial and Nenhiril looked at each other with uncertainty, they worried if she would insult him. What she did next was not expected.

Gadwen bowed lowly. "Guren linna a chened le (My hear sings to see you)."

Nenhirl and Minuial let out a quiet squeal.

"All right, Nenhiril, take Gadwen to her room. I must talk to my parents," Minuial instructed. "Aradir, you stay with Legolas.

Nenhiril nodded her head and picked up Gadwen's bags. She walked towards Gadwen, who was still standing close to Legolas.

"Gadwen, I think we should get you to your room," Nenhiril informed.

"Very well," Gadwen quietly said, she bowed lowly again and excused herself.

Legolas watched as she gracefully walked away with Nenhiril. Aradir walked up to Legolas, with a smirk on his face.

"What do you think of Gadwen?" Aradir asked.

Legolas unexpectedly said: "I have to sleep with more weapons."

"What? Why?" Aradir asked.

"She hasn't changed, she's still got a dagger tied to her ankle."

Aradir gave Legolas an odd look, but looked anyway. He was right. Gadwen's dress swished back and forth as she walked, flashing her leg. There on her left ankle, tied in lace, was a dagger with the sheath covering it.

.

"Well?" Nenhiril asked.

"Well, what?" Gadwen said.

"What do you think of Legolas?"

Gadwen shrugged. "Still the same."

"WHAT!" Nenhiril shouted. "What was that look of shock then? The marvel, the passion in your voice, the breath you took?"

"Oh, the breath I took in was only because there was a horrible stench in the air, I didn't want to breath it in." Gadwen lazily said. "I'm assuming the nasty stench was from Legolas."

"But, but, but, what was that look?" Nenhiril desperately asked.

Gadwen sighed, turned around, and took in deep breaths.

Nenhiril watched curiously. Gadwen soon turned around, with the same passionate looking eyes and marveled expression plastering her face.

"Gurren linna a chenned le!" Gadwen mocking said, with passion in her voice.

Then went back to her 'normal' state. "You mean that expression?"

Nenhiril stood dumbstruck. "It was an act?"

"Of course, I'm trying to get on his good side," Gadwen smiled. "So when I take revenge on him, it'll be a total surprise!"

Nenhiril was still standing dumbstruck....

"So....where's my room?"

---

(A/N)

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