A Rose By Any Other Name

And now for the thanks!

sisterkitty: LOL! Oh, I don’t know… I think there will be a bit more of a comeuppance for our dear MarchWarden… just in a different sort of way… And not quite yet I think. Hmm… groveling can be a good thing though I think… *snickers*

jw: *Grins evilly* Well… Galadriel’s hint… hmm… What can I say about that? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see! I have it all planned out what’s going to happen, I just have to find the time to type it all out. And yes! Bitch-slapping is a VERY good thing! ^^

DragonEyeZ: Ah! Yes! Again! Bitch-slapping is a good thing! But don’t think that Asca will get off scott free from that. *Snickers*

AzureDragoness: All I can say is… *evil laughter* Mahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

tlstroud: Much is happy that you likey me story!!! Yes! Much more soon!!!

Thank you all for reviewing the last chapter! You know you guys are the spice of my life! I wouldn’t have the strength to keep doing this if it wasn’t for you guys! Thank you so much for your support! It really does mean the world to me! And thank you all for your patients with me too! Much loves and keep up the reviews ne!?

Now onto the fic!!! Enjoy!!!!!

~~~A Rose By Any Other Name~~~
Chapter Fifteen

Ascadholiel watched Celeborn walk away for a moment, then took Legolas’ arm again and the two once again started their descent down the spiraling staircase. “Well, that could have gone worse.”

Legolas nodded. “Indeed. For a moment, by the look in Haldir’s eyes, I feared true harm to you. I am proud of the way you handled yourself through all of that melamin.”

Ascadholiel smiled up at him. “*Thank you. Um… Legolas? Why did Celeborn say that you had chosen well when he saw that I didn’t back down? I thought I was supposed to get in trouble for that.*”

Legolas frowned a little and said, “*Because being bound to me will eventually mean that you’ll meet my father. He’s a good, but stern father, but he can be rather arrogant and stubborn at times.*”

A voice called from behind them again, though different this time. “*Arrogant and stubborn? Are you speaking of our brother?*”

Legolas and Ascadholiel stopped and turned to see Orophin and Rumil hurrying to catch up with them as they came gracefully down the stairs. Legolas and his wife smiled at them and Legolas said, “*No. My father.*”

Rumil was the first to catch up, and said, “*Ah. Even worse then!*”

Orophin said, “*A more stubborn elf I have yet to meet, yet I think that Haldir may yet still beat him in arrogance.*”

Rumil smirked. “*Well, not so much more I think, thanks to that well handed blow That was just dealt to him.*” He said, kissing Ascadholiel’s hand as he bowed a little, his eyes smiling up at her from over her hand.

Orophin laughed. “*Indeed. Our brother’s ignorance towards you I think will be much more quelled.*” He too took up and kissed her other hand. “*And might I add that you look splendid today Lady Ascadholiel. A true gift to the eyes. Much more so than when we met at any hand.*”

Ascadholiel smiled at the brothers, blushing since she still was not at all used to such attentions. “*Thank you both, though I am unworthy of such fond praise. I must admit, the gown is very slimming, but I am nowhere near and ellenath (she-elf).*”

Legolas’ gentle fingers immediately turned her head towards his and placed a loving kiss briefly on her lips. He pulled away and smiled at her, as he had been doing for some time. His voice was soft and loving. “*How many times must we all tell you, do not compare yourself to an elf. You have no need to. You are beautiful and loved for who you are. I would not, could not, love you any differently were you an ellenath. Weather you are human, elf, hobbit, or even dwarf, I would only love you more with every second.*”

Orophin and Rumil smiled at how the two were so in love that they seemed at times to forget about everyone and everything around them. They saw the open love on both of their faces as Ascadholiel reached a hand up and gently caressed Legolas’ cheek. The couple seemed to snap out of it when Orophin said quietly, “*Could you see the look that Legolas has on his face on Haldir’s face?*”

Rumil shook his head. “*No. No I can’t… and it’s painful to try.*” The brother’s both laughed at the glares they got for ruining the moment.

The couple linked arms and continued down the stairs, the brother’s following behind them, talking with each other.

They parted ways at the bottom of the stairs, Orophin and Rumil going one way, Legolas and Ascadholiel going the other. The couple talked little things for a while, just getting to know each other a little more, or commenting about the beauty of some of the things they were seeing around them. Finally they came to a sort of pavilion that had been set up with tents and the like.

The hobbits were just sitting down to elevenses and it ed oed out that Aragorn had just come right back here after coming to see them. He was leaning back against one of the trees, smoking his pipe and raised a simple hand in greeting to them.

Legolas raised his hand back, and Ascadholiel nodded and smiled brightly.

Boromir, who was talking with Gimli, was the next to see them. His eyes widened a little and Ascadholiel covered her laugh behind her hand as he did a quick double take, then stood.

Gimli looked over his shoulder and spotted what had caught the Gondorian’s attention, and spoke loudly, as always. “Ah! And a fine sight she is! You look lovely lass.”

Ascadholiel smiled brightly and inclined her head. “Thank you master dwarf. Might I say that you look much better as well?”

This drew the attention of the hobbits as well, and Merry and Pippin scrambled up and latched onto her waist.

The woman laughed and hugged them back as best she could with only one arm uninjured. Frodo and Sam smiled as they watched this, Sam still cooking over the small fire.

Ascadholiel looked up at them and said, “Am I in time for elevenses?”

Sam smiled big and nodded. “Indeed you mil milady. I threw some extras on for you, just in case you felt well enough to come down and join us, and if you didn’t, we thought we might bring some up to you.”

Ascadholiel smiled again. “Thank you Sam.”

Boromir by this time had made his way over and made the two latched hobbits give her some room. He took her hand that wasn’t wrapped back around Legolas’ arm and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “It warms this man’s heart to see you up and about. We were all worried when you were so long in the healer’s talan.”

“Thank you for your concern Boromir, my friend. I am feeling much better. And let me also say, that it warms this woman’s heart to see that you all have bathed.”

That got a laugh from everyone, including Boromir. He smiled and gave her hand a little squeeze, then let it go so as not to get a look from her on looking, obviously protective, husband.

Ascadholiel lead Legolas over to a place by the fire, and he helped her sit on the ground where she wanted, then sat himself on a large stone which she was leaning her back against.

The rest of the fellowship had to admit, they looked quite the pair, and dressed to match as they were as well. Legolas kept one of his hands resting casually and lightly on her right shoulder, careful as always of the bandages, his pinkie finger occasionally rubbing against the side of her neck in a decidedly loving gesture. Those of the fellowship who saw this, wandered if it was an unconscious action or not.

Ascadholiel was beginning to feel like her old self again. She laughed and joked around with the, though she could tell a lot of it was forced. The loss of Gandalf still weighed heavily on them all. She even felt it from Legolas, though she knew not to pry, especially with him, since he was an elf. She knew full well from her talks with him that grief could kill his kind more assuredly than any fatal battle wound.

The young woman longed to see them all when they were not on a dangerous quest, or grieving from the loss of someone dear to them, and she wandered if that time would ever come. She too felt the pain from Gandalf’s loss, though maybe not as acutely as the others did, but still, he had indeed become like a grandfather to her. A grandfather she had never had. So she went along with it all, and they all attempted to cheer each other up. She tried hard not to worry too much about Legolas… if that was even possible. She knew that being here amongst his own kind, in a land well protected and peaceful, would do him a world of good.

Not long after they were all done eating, Ascadholiel was in the midst of a conversation with Aragorn and Boromir, when Legolas leaned forward and spoke into Ascadholiel’s ear, his silken hair brushing along her shoulder blades and neck. “*If you are all right, I was thinking that now might be a good time to show our dwarf some elvish hospitality. Perhaps try to begin that friendship you spoke so fondly of? If he accepts, would you care to join us?*”

Ascadholiel looked over her shoulder at him proudly and pressed a kiss to his soft lips. “*No. But thank you for asking. This should be a time just between the two of you. I’ll stay here and enjoy the company, then go for a walk for some time alone and to think. You have a good time though my love.*”

Legolas didn’t look happy at all about the idea of her walking alone, but she smiled reassuringly at him. “*You said yourself that the borders of this forest are yell protected dear husband. No one will harm me here and I really do need time alone to think and to grieve.*”

This seemed to settle the issue a little more in Legolas’ mind, and he smiled, still a little reluctant and nodded. “*Very well. Just be careful then. And no more picking fights with March-wardens.*”

Ascadholiel laughed lightly at Legolas’ teasing. “*Yes my Prince. No more picking fights with pompous, arrogant, holier-than-thou, self-righteous, over-stuffed… maybe it is just easier to call him Haldir… March-wardens. At least not for today.*”

Legolas smirked and chuckled almost inaudibly. “*That’s all I ask my love.*” He kissed her briefly, then stood up gracefully, his cream-colored robes whispering as they moved. He walked over to Gimli and leaned down a little so the dwarf could better hear his quiet voice. They said a few words and Gimli, much less gracefully, rose to his feet. The two excused themselves quietly and walked off deeper into the woods.

True to her word, after a time, Ascadholiel excused herself, and wandered away down the paths of ‘Lorien by herself, reassuring the others who offered to walk with her, that she needed to be alone for a time. She reflected on all that had gone on since she’d been dropped in the snow on Caradhras. She found this forest enchanting as she walked under the great canopy letting the sounds of nature soothe her soul, as they always had back in her other world. Though things seemed more alive, more conscious here, as if the tries back in her world were dormant, or dead. Unknowledgeable of how to do things, unable to whisper and converse with each other.

She stopped in her walking when she came across a sapling of one of the great Mellorn trees. Still a sapling though it was, it was as tall and strong as some of the great evergreens in her old world. She smiled and laid her hand against it, feeling the rough bark beneath her palm. She smiled wider and pulled herself up onto the lowest branch, extremely careful of aggravating her wound or tearing her gown. When she was high up in the tree, she settled herself on a sturdy branch and leaned back against the trunk. She closed her eyes, letting the sounds of nature fill her and flow through her.

This had been the only real joy she had ever had back in her old world. Trees and nature didn’t criticize, they didn’t blame or hurt or demand. They simply were. Their love and support were all she ever really needed or wanted there. Nature was always there for her and it never let her down. No matter how everything else changed. The trees stayed the same, anchored in the mighty earth, unchanging to all around it, if man left it alone.

Ascadholiel opened her eyes after quite a while, feeling much more relaxed and at peace with herself… and nearly fell off the branch as she saw that Galadriel was now sitting on the branch beside hers.

The Lady reached a swift hand out and steadied her. Her deep voice was still as mysterious as it had been before. “Forgive me. It was not my intention to frighten you. I meerly did not wish to disturb you while you communed with nature.”

Ascadholiel frowned a little. “But I wasn’t…”

Galadriel cocked a fine golden brow. “Were you not?” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You close your eyes and listen to everything, every bit of life you can. You feel the wind and the tree which cradles you sway gently. You smell the blossoming flowers and know that it is all far older than any can tell. You feel the earth move and you are at peace. You are connected and part of it all. You sway with the wind and move with the earth. You immerse your very soul, like the roots of the great trees and crest the clouds, soaring on Anar’s (the sun) rays like the birds. You know you belong, and you imagine that you can even hear the trees whispering their many histories and secrets to you.”

The Lady opened her eyes and saw that Ascadholiel had at some point closed her eyes as well and had a smiled on her face.

The human whispered, “Yes. That’s it exactly.” She opened her eyes and looked at and looked again at Galadriel. “You’re the first one to understand.”

Galadriel shook her head. “Share it with Legolas some time. The elves of Mirkwood are in far greater communion with nature than even I.”

Ascadholiel smiled. “I’ll do that sometime. I would very much like to have someone close to me like that to share it with.” Then she chuckled a little and Galadriel cocked her head slightly. Ascadholiel looked back at her, smiling. “Sorry. I just had the sudden realization that you climbed this tree.” Galadriel cocked and eyebrow and Ascadholiel went on. “Well, you just didn’t seem the type.”

Galadriel laughed, a beautiful sound fill with the power of the forest. “I am still an elf. Though I must admit, it has been well over a millennia since I climbed a tree in this manner.”

Ascadholiel smiled, feeling a little more comfortable around the Lady. “Well you should more often. It sets you free and gives you time to think. It makes you feel young again.” She said, not knowing how appropriate this statement was for an elf, let alone one of Galadriel’s age.

Galadriel nodded. “Indeed. Lady Ascadholiel, I would like to extend an invitation to you and your bonded to dine with Lord Celeborn and I later tonight.”

Ascadholiel smiled. “I would very much like that Lady. I’ll speak with Legolas about it, but I’m sure he won’t decline either.”

Galadriel smiled and nodded. “Then I shall leave you to your thoughts. Good day Lady Ascadholiel.”

“Good day Lady Galadriel.” Ascadholiel smiled, then watching in wonder as Galadriel picked up the edge of her flowing white gown, and dropped so gracefully that she seemed to float from one branch to another, until she was safely on the forest floor, where she glided away.

Ascadholiel watched her for a moment, then looked away shaking headhead and whispering, “Okay, now I envy that woman.” Then she looked back down a moment later, to see Legolas climbing up the tree with as much ease as Galadriel had descended. “But not too much.” Then she called, “Mea govannen, hervenn nin. (Well met, my husband)”

Legolas smiled at her as he settled on the branch Galadriel had been on before. “Mea govannen, melethryn. Have you been enjoying your time alone?”

Ascadholiel nodded. “Of course, though I haven’t been alone the whole time. Galadriel joined me up here and then departed only a few moments prior to your arrival.”

Legolas looked a little surprised at that. “Oh? And what did the Lady wish to speak with you about?”

Ascadholiel looked out at the forest, swinging her legs a little, perfectly at home with being so high in the tree. “Oh this and that. Just a few things about nature, the woods, and an invitation for you and me to join her and Lord Celeborn for dinner tonight.”

Legolas’ eyebrow went up a little at this. “I see. What answer did you give her?”

“I didn’t yet. I said I would talk it over with you and we would decide together, though I also told her that I didn’t think you would decline.”

Legolas smiled, both at the fact that she was right, and at the fact that she wanted them to work together on even the smallest decisions. “And so I shall not.” He stood effortlessly, as if on solid ground and held out his hand. “Well them melme, shall we go give our answer. I think it about time for your bandages to be changed as well.”

Ascadholiel nodded, but made no real move to get up. “Okay, but I hope you realize that it will take me a fair extent longer for me to climb down than it will for you.”

Legolas grinned a little. “Not if I carry you.”

Ascadholiel’s eyes widened a little. Climbing up and down a ladder was one thing, jumping across tree limbs was another. “Don’t you, eep!” She was suddenly in his arms and he was hopping down as effortlessly as Galadriel had, taking much the same route as well. She held on for dear life.

When they finally reached the bottom, Legolas stumbled a little and she clung harder. Then she noticed the reason the elf had stumbled and quickly released the death grip her hands had on his throat.

Legolas gasped in a breath, coughing a little, and Ascadholiel covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh! Oh my god! I am SO sorry! I didn’t know I was choking you! Are you okay?” She busied herself looking at his neck, touching him gently now where her fingers had left bruises.

Legolas caught his breath and smiled at her as he started walking again. “Yes melamin, I am fine. Iuld uld not have startled you so.”

Ascadholiel smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, squeezing in a tender hug. “Well, my thanks for the help down anyway. Do you think I could walk now?”

Legolas chuckled a little and set her gently on her feet, taking her hand and guiding it to wrap around his arm, placing his own hand over it as he did, escorting her like the lady she was beginning to feel like to the healer’s talan for her dressings to be changed.

**********

A.N.: Okay! And there we have chapter 15! Are you guys still with me?! Gods I hope so… I really need a pick me up right now. I’d love to hear from you all, but you guys are so good at reviewing, I don’t really think I need to worry about it too much. That still doesn’t change the fact that I love to hear from you. So do give me some more feed back ne?! And yes I know… It’s most likely a Mary-sue now… but hey… it’s a happy one isn’t it?! So… enough of me gabbing on again. I’ll get to the next chapter soon. Wish me luck ne?! Namaarie!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman