A Rose By Any Other Name

A.N.: Yes… there is going to be another song in this. I believe that music is a powerful thing and can shape the world at times. You can express your emotions sometimes just by humming a single note. Plus, there are just some songs that say everything you need to be said. The song in this is from the “Coyote Ugly” soundtrack and is called “Please Remember.” I think it hits the points that need to be hit and how she feels a bit right now.

Also, I want to put out a thank you once again to all those who reviewed, constructively at least. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that I make a difference in peoples lives just by writing this. That was my intention. Also, I gave Asca my love of nature. The things that she says, does, and feels about it, are my own views as well. Nature gives great peace, especially if you take the time to just sit and listen to it. I myself live in a good, forested area with a creek/river running through a ravine. When you get down the 300 ft. to the bot you you can’t hear a single thing made by man, just nature. I even have my favorite tree to sit in above the water. But anyway, a great big thank you and I love you, to everyone. Though I do write this mainly for everyone else and the good impact it has on most of them, weather as a deeper meaning or just simply enjoyment, I still enjoy writing it myself.

Even though some people would like to see this story ended because the dislike it, if one one person, just ONE comes to me and says that my writing has made a difference in their lives, then it is well worth it.

Just the other day, I had that happen. I got a series of reviews that have touched me more than any other and brought me to tears. Though I love all my regulars and they mean the world to me, I think they’ll understand when I give out a special thank you to Maria. Your words didn’t sound corny in the least. I understand perfectly how you feel, because the same is in my own heart. Your heartfelt review was what every author should hope for. A sign that they have made a difference and that someone understands what they were trying to put out in their writing. Thank you. Thank you so very much. Words can’t say how you have truly made me feel, and this chapter I dedicate to you.

I hope I continue to make a difference in your life as well as the lives of all my other readers. Thank you to all my regulars again! You are no less special in my heart and mind. You guys are what keep me going! I love you all so much and the encouragement you give me constantly is endless. Thank you all so much!

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

Ascadholiel opened her eyes again and looked up at Legolas, a huge smile on her face. “I love it. It well surpassed my definition of beauty, let alone the majority of the population of my old world’s ideal of possibility, probability, and believability. Most would…”

She shut right up as Legolas, his arm still around her shoulders, used his other hand to gently grasp her chin and pressed his lips against hers as her eyes fluttered closed again. The kiss deepened only slightly before ending, but her eyes were still closed, her lips slightly parted. He ran his fingers down the side of her face whispering, “Too much thought right now, melamin.”

Ascadholiel didn’t open her eyes, but nodded and breathed out, “Oh yeah, thoughts go bye-bye.”

Legolas chuckled and kissed her forehead gently, pulling her back as she opened her eyes. “Let’s get these off of you melme. We should bathe the sutures now anyway.” His strong but gentle, long-fingered hands went to the ties of her bandages.

Ascadholiel held still as he gently unwound the rolls of soft bandages, gently peeling them away from her skin.

Legolas’ eyes saddened infinitely and he winced a little, his fair face crumbling for just a moment, like it did every time, as the stitched skin was revealed. His fingers hovered over the wound, not touching, the same sad look still in his eyes.

Ascadholiel took his hand into both of hers and looked into his eyes, drawing them from her wounds to her eyes. She spoke softly and full of love. “I know what you’re thinking love. This was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done.”

Legolas burst out quietly, “But I should have…”

Ascadholiel put the fingers of one hand against his lips, still holding his hand with the other, stopping him from going on with a shake of her head. “Shh… don’t. No should have, would have, or could haves. What happened in the past happened and could not have happened any other way, else it would have. I am alive and well. This will heal with little more than a scar. I am in no pain, save for that which you keep putting yourself through with your irrational blaming of yourself. Please let it go Legolas. I love you too much to watch you eat at yourself because of this guilt and risk the chance of loosing you to it.”

Legolas sighed but finally nodded. “Your words are wise beyond your years melamin, and a great comfort to my heart as well. You are right. I was wrong to despair.”

Ascadholiel kissed his lips briefly and smiled. “Damn right you were. Now lets hop in that bath. That water looks wonderful and I’m not even going to ask how it’s already heated.”

Legolas smiled and nodded gripping her hand again and leading her to the edge of the water. He helped her down the carved stone steps into the water before descending them himself.

The water was waist deep, but still the pool was not very big, just big enough for the two of them. There were bigger pools down below in the forest that were used for communal bathing, but this was a luxury that the Lady and her Lord had seen fit to give them.

They faced each other and Legolas took this time to first gently clean her sutures making sure to get the discharge that usually comes from wounds like this off. “Am I hurting you melme?”

Ascadholiel shook her head. “No beloved. It almost feels like the wound is not there. Just an odd sort of tickling when you rub over the stitches.”

Legolas nodded. “Thanks to the healers the wound should be gone within the month.”

Ascadholiel smiled. “Good.” Then she moved her hands through the water, making small ripples from the movement as she closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure. “This water feels so good.”

Legolas smiled gently as he rinsed the soap from around the stitches. “I thought you would like it. Evidently so did Lady Galadriel.”

Ascadholiel chuckled, still keeping her eyes closed and turning with Legolas’ prompting so that she was facing away from him. “She probably heard my comment as we came down from the flet we spent our first night on here at the edge of the forest.”

Legolas nodded as he lathered up a soft rag and began washing her back. “Most likely. The Lady is aware of everything that goes on within the boarders of her forest.”

Ascadholiel groaned a little. “Ohhh… that means that she saw my little tiffs with Haldir.”

Legolas laughed and squeezed her shoulder a little. “I wouldn’t worry about it melamin. You heard what Lord Celeborn said. They’ve just been waiting to see how long it would take for someone to come along and slap some of the arrogance out of Haldir. Knowing the Lady, she most likely found it somewhat amusing, as I know everyone else who bore witness to it did.”

Ascadholiel nodded and took another cloth after finally opening her eyes, lathering it up and washing the rest of herself as Legolas finished up with her back.

Legolas picked up a sort of bowl next. “Tilt your head back melme. I’m going to wet your hair down.”

Ascadholiel nodded again and complied, smiling at the feeling of the warm water running through her hair and over her scalp. She sighed again as Legolas ran hands covered in rose scented shampoo through het let locks.

The elf swiftly rinsed her hair again and she turned around and smiled at him as she said, “Your turn my beloved.”

Legolas smiled and nodded, ducking under the water playfully. He popped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her pulling her against him bringing and indignant cry of, “Hey! No fair!” from her.

Ascadholiel turned around, leaned up against him, and kissed him smiling as his arms tightened around her briefly. They broke the kiss and she reached up, brushing the wet strands of golden hair off of his face and shoulder. She smiled at him with love and poured some more soap from a vial onto her palms before smoothing them over the flat planes of his chest. Tenderly she washed the sweat from his body, pleased with the fact that he let her was all of him. It was quite a soothing act for the both of them.

Legolas turned when she signaled for him to and she pleasured again in washing his back. Ascadholiel leaned forward as she befobefore and placed a gentle, loving kiss to the scar on his shoulder blade, knowing that the reason it had scarred and not just healed, was because it came at the time, with grief. She gathered his hair and moved it over his shoulder so she had fuller access to his back.

Ascadholiel washed her lover tenderly, every once in a while coming across a tense muscle or a knot in his back or neck. She would pause at these places and gently dig her thumbs in, unknotting the muscles and relaxing him.

Legolas groaned when she did this, and when she reached his neck with her thumbs he let his chin fall forward onto his chest giving her more access. Finally his wife could find no more knots and she pushed on his shoulders for him to kneel, the water now coming up to his shoulders so she could wash his hair easier. As she worked the lather into his golden locks, Legolas spoke up sounding quite relaxed. “Where did you learn to do that melamin?”

Ascadholiel continued her work as she answered, savoring the feel of the soft hair sliding between her fingers. “What? How to massage?” She smiled when he nodded minutely. “Well, I guess it’s both a talent and a learned skill. Before I came here, I was taking classes at a school of massage. Like I said, I like helping people, even if overall, I prefer the company of trees and nature far more.”

That reminded the woman of what Galadriel had said to her earlier that day when they had been sitting in the tree before Legolas had showed up. “You know, Galadriel said to me today, that when I relax in nature, that what I really do is commune with it. She understood better than anyone I’ve ever met how I feel when I do that. How everything feels so connected, and I’m part of it, just an extension of nature. She said that I should share this with you, that you would understand too, and that wood elves especially have an exceptional connection with nature.”

Legolas, his eyes closed, nodded a little. Ascadholiel could hear the smile in his voice. “Indeed. The Lady is correct on all accounts. I do understand and have felt it countless times before.” He ducked swiftly under the water, rinsing his hair. He came back up, facing her, a light shining in his eyes that matched his smile. He took her shoulders in his hands. “I am so pleased and proud that you wish to shared this with me. It brings me great joy to know that you value life such as this so much.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently.

When they broke the kiss, Legolas touched his forehead to hers and whispered, “We should get out now and rebind your wounds. You shouldn’t soak the skin around the sutures for too long.”

Ascadholiel nodded and with that they climbed out of the water. Legolas tenderly dried her off before drying himself since he didn’t have to worry about the chill. He took her hand again and lead them both back to the bedroom. He sat her on the edge of the bed before going to a trunk in the corner of the room.

Legolas returned with a roll of bandages in his long-fingered hands. Settling himself beside her, he gently wrapped the soft bandages around the wound. When he was done, he gently kissed her neck.

Ascadholiel smiled and leaned over, laying her head down on Legolas’ shoulder. The elf wrapped his arms around her and petted her hair while he hummed to her softly. He laid his cheek against the top of her head and his humming turned into soft singing.

After a while, Legolas noticed that she had fallen asleep against him. He smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I love you,” he whispered. He gently laid her down then tucked her under the blankets.

Ascadholiel mumbled, stirring a little bit, but once Legolas slipped under the blankets beside her, she snuggled up against him, curling into his side.

Legolas smiled happily and wrapped his arms around his sleeping wife. Finally he relaxed completely, his blue eyes glazed over in reverie.

*****

Later that n, As, Ascadholiel awakened, warm and safe in her husband’s arms… and sighed sadly. She knew that Lady Galadriel had assured her that she had some time yet until her love left to finish his quest. It still didn’t help though. When it came to being around him, she found herself very selfish. She was reluctant to let the only real love in her life go so easily from her arms.

Ascadholiel slowly and carefully untangled herself from Legolas’ embracing limbs so as not to wake him, and stood up. She had forgotten that Legolas, as an elf, was aware of his surroundings as he slept/rested, and therefore had returned to full wakefulness when her breathing had changed, signaling that she was waking.

The human scooped an elven robe of flowing, gauzy, lilac material off the end of the bed and slipped the silky material on tying it around her waist loosely. With another look and a sad smile at her husband, whom she thought still asleep on the bed, therefore not knowing that he saw the look, she turned and walked quietly out onto the open balcony connected to their talan.

Ascadholiel looked out at the silver lights in the trees and the city that was built in them, and a soft breeze played with her hair and robe. She watched as even though it was night, glowing elves still moved silently and gracefully here and there through the trees, seeming more to float than walk. Sad emotion almost overcame her, so she did what she often did when it became too hard or too much in her life.

She sang.

She sang quietly at first of what was in her heart. She forgot that it was more than likely that most, if not all, of the elves in the area could hear her, and on top of that, didn’t notice that her voice rose in volume and feeling as she sang. She didn’t care or notice that her voice, a little rusty from sleep cracked or went flat on a few notes. She also didn’t notice Legolas now standing in the shadows of their room, watching and listening as she poured the ache in her soul into her song.

She let her emotions pour out and effect all those who heard, even as her voice carried surprisingly well into the villa below, where rest of the fellowship was set up.

“Time. Sometimes the time just slips away, and your left with dit dat days, left with the memories. I, I’ll always think of you and smile, and be happy for the time I had you with me. Though we go our separate ways, I won’t forget. So don’t forget the memories we made.

“Please remember. Please remember, I was there for you and you were there for me. Please remember, our time together, when time was yours and mine and we were wild and free. Please remember. Please remember, me.”

Her heart was truly begging just as her voice was as she sang. She took a breath and leaned on the railing before her. Legolas didn’t go to her quite yet, knowing that she was not done yet and had to get this out, his heart aching with her words, tone, and emotion but needing to hear more.

She went on, singing her fears as well.

“Goodbye. There’s just no sadder word to say. And it’s sad to walk away with just the memories. Who’s to know what might have been. We leave behind a life and time we’ll never know again.

“Please remember. Please remember, I was there for you and you were there for me. And remember, please remember, me.”

She was blind and deaf now to all but the pain in her heart, not noticing that many of the elves had indeed stopped to listen, and more had come to do so as well. Tears were streaming down her face, and some landed on her white-knuckled hand, which was gripping the railing. Her voice was passionate and full of her sorrow. It hit Legolas strait to his heart. He watched her tears fall onto her hands since he could not see her face, her back still turned to him, as he silently walked closer.

Again she went on, a slight key-change in the song marking her words and making them more passionate.

“Please remember. Please remember! I was there for you and you were there for me. Please remember, our time together, when time was yours and mine and we were wild and free. Then remember, please remember me.

“And how we laugh, and how we smile, and how this heart was yours and mine. And how no dream wat oft of reach. I stood by you, you stood by me. We took each day and made it shine. We wrote our names across the sky. We ride so fast. We ride so free. ‘Cause I had you and you had me. Please remember. Please remember.”

Then she closed her eyes and with a small cry, fell to her knees, sobbing, her hands clutching the railing above her head. Her head was bowed, her hair falling into her face as her tears flowed, her body wracked with her sobs, still not noticing or caring who watched.

Legolas, wearing only his breeches, sank to his knees beside her, taking her silently into his arms, rocking her gently as she switched her grip wordlessly to him, his fair elven face was a mask of sorrow and pain as he held his distraught wife. No words were said. None were needed.

Finally her sobbing slowed and stopped as she cried herself to sleep against him. Legolas picked her up and took her back to their bed, not bothering to unclothe either of them. He tucked her and himself back into bed and held her throughout the rest of the night, not sleeping again, but watching over her and running his fingers gently through her hair, kissing her face every once in a while.

Legolas’ thoughts of course were quite troubled as he debated with himself what o. Fo. For now though, he simply watched over his near heartbroken love as she slept, now soundly, against his bare chest, his strong, solid arms holding her safe and tightly throughout the night.

**********

A.N.: Yeah yeah, I know… slightly depressing end to the chapter. You know what they say though, it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. But hey, what would a story be, Mary-sue, or not, if it didn’t have some angst to it! Don’t worry though, there will be some definite comfort there. Well, so what do you think? Any questions? Next time I put out a chapter, I’ll try to do personalized thank yous and responses. Well, till then… don’t know how long it will be… I’m really behind in getting these things typed out, not to mention carpel tunnel is making it a fair bitch to type this very fast. Anyways, love you guys! Namaarie!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman