Heavenly Bodies

The Choices We Make
by Christina

She wasn’t sure what brought on her most current thoughts of nostalgia. The picture of perfection standing before her had something to do with it, she was certain. She could never help the fact that he overwhelmed her. Elves were ethereal. Timeless like a painting or a sculpture. It was the aura of peace and serenity that enveloped him. It never failed to reach out and touch her… engulf her… fill her with light.

She was sitting on the bank by the small stream that ran through their own private retreat in the small piece of Mirkwood she’d had recreated for him. He’d been standing just downstream, the wind blowing through his hair, but otherwise completely unaffected by the weather conditions.

“Legolas,” her voice was soft, letting the wind carry her words to him.

He turned to gaze at her, a smile gracing his face. “Milady,” he replied, leaving off his task and moving to join her.

Her look had been tranquil as she sat there watching him. But as he closed the distance between them, it changed to tenderness, bordering on longing. He rarely felt the need to sit, but it wasn’t uncommon for him to sit behind her and pull her to him until her back was flush to his chest. The sense of contentment that encompassed her was complete.

“Something presses on your mind,” he stated, his words soft on her ear.

“I was thinking,” she acknowledged, “about the past… choices we made…”

“All of which led us here,” he pointed out, though in all reality, he knew he didn’t need to.

“That they did. But still, don’t you ever reminisce about them. I mean, don’t you miss them… Aragorn… Gimli…”

“I do. Though Grace, time… eventually it claims them all. All save you.”

She nodded in understanding. “We are eternal. So much has changed since my first memory. Some things I find necessary.”

“Such as your lavatory with running water,” he teased lightly.

Only Legolas could refer to a toilet and almost make it sound poetic. The smile on her face only brightened. “Well we all have our little necessities. That one’s mine.” When he sat behind her, he rested his chin on her shoulder. It was a slight movement that allowed her to press her cheek to his. “I must confess. You are the only true necessity for me.”

“As you are for me.” He paused for a long moment, like his mate his eyes were focused on the stream. He could see the fish swimming in the water, engaging in the never-ending circle of life.

“You never wish that you’d chosen to stay in Middle Earth. That I would have chosen your world instead of you choosing mine?”

“I have no regrets. My love, my world changed drastically after the war of the ring. Everything changed. And yes, I chose to be with you. If I had to choose again, I would choose you.”

It was perhaps the most he had ever spoken at one time to her. He was not one given to many words. So the fact that he decided to expend so many now spoke volumes. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your world or mine… the destination was not nearly as important as being where you are, Legolas.”

He smiled softly. “And you made this home for us. I believe you are firmly… What do you call it? Stuck with me.”

She laughed at that, turning to face him. She sat on her knees, hands resting lightly on his shoulders. “I can’t think of any other way I’d have it.” She pressed her lips lightly to his before repositioning herself. Once again, her back resting to his chest. “We made a good choice,” she said with finality.

“Indeed, my love, we did.”

The End