Heavenly Bodies

The Chateau
by Christina

“How long have you had this chateau?”

“About 300 years. The king gave it to me as a gift. Sort of a ‘thank you’.”

“For what?”

Grace sat on the grass, pulled her knees up to her chest, and stared at her long time friend and lover. “What do you think, Legolas? I really doubt that he was thanking me for the great psychiatric advice I’d given him.”

The tall blonde elf laughed lightly and joined her on the grass. “Perhaps not.” Reaching out, he caressed her cheek. “Though, to me, you’re worth more than a pitiful chateau.”

Her head rested on her knee as she looked over at him. He was so young when they’d met, but then so was she. “It’s fifty rooms, and I’ve enjoyed it for three centuries. It’s a sanctuary to me.” She paused and took his hand with hers. “As you are. I don’t know…”

His finger touched her lips to quiet her. “You’d survive. And I’ll always be here.”

“Not always,” she said when he slowly moved the finger away.

With the fluidity that was unique to his species, he moved beside her and held her closely to him. “Always. In your heart and your soul. That’s true immortality, Grace. That’s where it’s granted. Besides, you worry too much about something over which we have no control. Live in the today, Grace.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into him. “All these millennia have made you one very smart elf, Legolas.”

He shook his head in response. “Not really smart, just been around, seen a lot. Like you have, hon. You’re a lot smarter than what you’ve led people to believe.”

“Don’t let that out,” she smiled. “I wouldn’t want people to know.”

Sighing, he closed his eyes as well. “I wouldn’t dream of giving out your precious secret. Though, I plan on keeping you all to myself for a few decades.”

A smile spread across her face as she replied, “Sounds good to me. You, me, this quiet town, and the chateau. Sounds perfect.”

“It does,” he said and smiled as he thought, ‘You are.’

The End