From claudielf's fic generator~!

[alexcat]

True Love by Fate

It was a dark and stormy night. An unnatural haze lingered over Linden. In his bed, Gil-galad shivered. For a summer night, the air was cold and the sky was black. It was almost as if something evil lurked out there in the shadows.

Gil-galad rolled over, clutching his pillow, and tried to fall back asleep. But a worry nagged in the back of his mind. Something was not right. No matter how he tried, some ghostly force prevented him from sleeping. It made him uneasy. With a sigh, he rolled out of bed, pulled on his Boot, and poured himself a cup of water from the pitcher on his nightstand. Quietly, he left his room.

The halls were silent as he walked in the dark. He did not know where he was going, or why, but his body seemed to move on its own accord. He was being drawn by an unseen power. Past his father's bedroom, past the dining hall, past the Dining Room, and out onto the terrace. With the moon hidden behind thick clouds, it was nearly impossible to see in the inky black night. But something lying on the path to Gil-galad's right made him gasp in shock. A body!

'By Sauron's Toe!!' Gil-galad shouted. He leapt over the terrace railing and onto the ground below, running toward the fallen form as fast as he could. Tree branches scratched at his skin and pulled at his clothes, but he paid them no mind. Heart pounding, he fell to his knees on the pathway and placed a gentle hand on the figure's Nose.

Now that he was closer, he could see that this was a young Noldor of Imladris, a Counselor by the looks of him, who appeared to be no more than 49 years old. But he was in dire need of help. His clothes were torn and bloody, and his hair was matted with Orcblood. He needed the attention of a healer, immediately. Without a second thought, Gil-galad picked up the wounded Counselor and, cradling him in his arms, carried him inside to seek the help that was so desperately needed.

*****

'His situation is severe,' Fingolfin said in a worried voice. 'Whether or not he will live until morning is beyond my sight. My team of healers will do the best they can, but...' his voice trailed off.

Gil-galad could sense his fear. There was a good chance the young Noldor might die. 'Is there anything I can do to help?' he asked.

Fingolfin sadly shook his head. 'Nothing the healers are not already trying. But it might help if you just sat with him. He will need to see a friendly face when he wakes up from this ordeal, and you are the closest thing he has right now.'

'I understand,' said Gil-galad. 'And I will stay with him for as long as it takes. I will not let him die.'

With that, Gil-galad turned and hurried to the room where the wounded Counselor was being housed. He was surrounded by healers, all of whom wore the same concerned expression. They had washed his body and dressed his wounds with healing salve, but still the Noldor showed no signs of improvement. His breathing was shallow, and his pulse was weak. One of the healers turned to Gil-galad with a defeated sigh.

'It will be an uphill battle,' she said. 'We have done all we can at this time. Now, we can only wait and see if he wakes.'

Gil-galad nodded resolutely. 'I will stay with him through the night and keep watch as he sleeps.'

One by one, the healers left the bedside, the last one closing the door behind her. In the flickering candle light, Gil-galad dipped a square of cloth in the bowl of warm water left by the healers, and gently used it to stroke the injured Noldor's Elbow. Then, taking up the Counselor's limp hand, he settled into his bedside chair and prepared to wait through the remainder of the long, cold night.

*****

'Where... where am I?'

Gil-galad jerked awake with a start when he heard the words being spoken. He stared down at his patient, an immense wave of relief coursing through his body. The Noldor was alive! And from the looks of things, he was on his way to making a full recovery.

'You are in Linden,' Gil-galad told him. 'I found you last night, lying unconscious and nearly dead on a path coming from the forest. I carried you inside, and my father's healers tended to your wounds. Please, tell me your name and how you came to be here.'

'My name is Erestor,' said the Noldor. 'I come from Imladris. I was on an errand from my father, to deliver an important message to Gandalf in Valinor. But last night... All I remember is that I was riding through the forest when suddenly I was attacked by a group of Mary Sues. At least 29 surrounded me. I tried to escape, but there were so many, and I had only my Spear for protection. And that is the last thing I recall. I do not know how I came to be here, or why I am not dead.'

Gil-galad smiled at him. 'The stars must shine favourably on you. To live through such an ordeal... that is more than mere luck.' It was more than luck, too, that Erestor had wound up in Linden and Gil-galad had found him. Now that they two were together, it felt almost like fate had lent a hand. Erestor was meant to be here, and Gil-galad was meant to have found him. Why, Gil-galad did not know. But it felt so certain.

It also did not hurt that Erestor was one of the most beautiful individuals Gil-galad had ever seen. His sleek Blue hair contrasted with large, dark Black eyes set in a lovely face. And his sculpted body, half-hidden by the bed linens, was a further attraction. Gil-galad could hardly suppress his desire to run his hands over that soft hair and perfect body. But he kept his feelings under control. Erestor had just barely survived a nearly fatal encounter. Now was not the time for romance.

*****

Within three days, Erestor had improved enough to leave his bed. Fingolfin gave him a new set of clothes, and he was able to wander the corridors and gardens by himself. But the one thing that troubled him was Gil-galad's absence. Since the morning when he'd first awoken in Linden, he had not seen Gil-galad at all. It was as if his rescuer had simply disappeared. He had asked Fingolfin where his son could be, but Fingolfin had no answer. Gil-galad was gone without a trace.

Erestor desired to speak with Gil-galad again, and properly thank him for saving his life. But he also just wanted to see the handsome Noldor once more. He could not explain it, but he felt a deep connection to Gil-galad, either forged by the lifesaving bond or some other power. He knew that Gil-galad was someone special. Someone he had to see again.

It wasn't until the sixth day after Erestor had recovered that Gil-galad returned to Linden. He rode up the same path where Erestor had been found, dragging a net filled with the heads of Mary Sues behind him. All 29 of them.

'Here are your Mary Sues!' he called to Erestor. 'I found them hiding out in a cave not far from here.'

Erestor stared in surprise, eyes going wide. 'You killed... all of them by yourself?'

'I cannot let such dangerous creatures roam free in our lands,' Gil-galad replied. 'And I did it for you. They nearly killed you. I do not want anything like that to happen again.'

Erestor could feel his heart pounding as Gil-galad spoke. Gil-galad killed those Mary Sues... for him. Before he could stop himself, he leapt at Gil-galad and threw his arms around his neck, kissing the brave Noldor on the Spear.

Gil-galad laughed in surprise, but did not pull away. 'What was that for?'

'Just a thank you,' Erestor said. He smiled, but when he saw the suddenly serious look in Gil-galad's eyes, the smile faded. 'What is wrong?' he asked, worried.

'Erestor,' said Gil-galad, 'I have to confess something to you. That first morning you were here... I thought you were so beautiful. I wanted to kiss you then, but I did not know how you would react.

Erestor gasped in shock. 'Kiss... me?'

'I told myself I must not, because of the terrible ordeal you had just suffered. It was not the right time. But these past few days while I was gone, I could think only of you the entire time. And now...'

'Gil-galad...' Erestor sighed his name. 'I thought about you too. All the time, while you were gone. I was worried I would never see you again.'

Gil-galad lifted his hand to gently stroke Erestor on the cheek. 'I am sorry I ran off like that. I should have said something to you.'

Taking a deep breath, Erestor said, 'Gil-galad, there is something I have been considering over the past several days. I think we were meant to find each other. What happened to me... it was no accident of fate. I was meant to come here. You were meant to rescue me.'

A bright smile broke across Gil-galad's face as soon as Erestor had spoken. 'You know,' he said, 'I had been thinking the same thing! That night when I found you I had been worried an unable to think. Some strange power led me out to the terrace, and that was when I saw you.'

Erestor took Gil-galad's hand. 'So you think... we are meant to be together?'

'I have no doubt of it.' Slowly, Gil-galad leaned in and kissed Erestor softly on the lips. 'I love you,' he whispered.

'I love you too, Gil-galad,' Erestor whispered in return.

THE END!



Chapter One

Malaria sighed heavily as she threw her velvet cloak to the floor. Feisty anger flashed in her Blue eyes. 'Curse you father!' she muttered to herself under her breath. 'An arranged marriage! How could you do this to me... your only daughter! Have you no care for my own happiness?' She flopped over onto her soft Corduroy-sheeted bed and glanced around at the empty room. Tears began to flood her eyes and roll softly down her porcelain cheeks. 'I cannot marry another,' she said in a voice no louder than a whisper. 'I cannot, for my true love is Legolas.'

Standing, Malaria walked solemnly to the window that overlooked the city of Minas Tirith. The sun was just setting for the night, casting a golden glow over the countryside. But the beauty of the scene touched not Malaria's heart, for it was saddened by the news that had been given to her only hours before. She was to be married to Aragorn, who was a close personal friend of her father's. She had been given no say in this matter- it was arranged behind her back. And there was no turning away from it now. Tomorrow, she would leave for The Misty Mountains to meet her future husband. And the day following, they would be wed.

Malaria clutched at the windowsill until her knuckles turned white, and she wept bitter tears. How could this be happening? All her life, she had been happy and carefree, and now this trouble... What had she done to deserve such a fate? Slowly, and with the blur of tears still in her vivid Blue eyes, she paced about her bedroom. All she could think of now was Legolas, and how the news would break his heart.

They had met two summers ago in Barad Dur, when Malaria had gone for a ride in the country with her mother and sisters. But when Malaria had strayed off the path to follow an adorable baby Horse, she had become separated from her family and hopelessly lost. Then out of nowhere a band of orcs had appeared to attack her. By some stroke of luck, she happened to have her father's Bow hidden secretly within the folds of her skirt. But though she managed to kill 29 of the foul creatures, she was soon outnumbered.

Then just as she though her life would be ended, a beautiful dream-like vision appeared before her. The deadly warrior who had come to her rescue, a handsome Elf, quickly killed off the remaining 49 orcs with his Sword before rushing to Malaria's side.

It was love at first sight. The moment she looked into his sparkling Yellow eyes, Malaria knew there would never be any other for her. 'My name is Legolas,' he said in a voice soft as the summer wind. Tenderly, he put a hand on her Nose to make sure she was alright. 'Are you hurt, my lady?' he asked.

'No,' she replied. In truth there was a bad cut on her Knee, but she didn't want to worry Legolas. 'And my name is Malaria.'

'Malaria,' Legolas repeated. He said the name as if savouring the sound of it on his tongue. 'That is a beautiful name, fit for so beautiful a lady.'

Malaria blushed coyly. She could feel his eyes wandering over her body, from head to foot, as he took in the sight of her laying on the grass. In truth, she was beautiful. Unusually so, some said. Her father came from the line of Elves of The Shire, while her mother was born into a lordly house of Hobbits in Imladris. The blending of the two races came together perfectly in Malaria, giving her an exotic look that few males found they could resist. Large almond-shaped bright Blue eyes were framed perfectly by shimmering waves of thick Green hair that fell to her waist. A Enerald-encrusted mithril pendant hung ever from her slender white neck, accentuating the delicate frame of her collarbone.

Suddenly, Malaria and Legolas were interrupted by a wild cry that signified more orcs still lurked nearby. 'Come,' said Legolas as he hurried Malaria to her feet. 'It is not safe to linger here. You must come with me, and hurry!' Taking Malaria's hand, he hastened away from the sound. Malaria did her best to keep up with him, but the pain in her Knee was too great.

'My lady!' gasped Legolas when he saw her lagging behind. 'You are injured!' Immediately he sat her down to examine the wound. Blood had already started to soak through her gown in an ugly red stain. 'I must tend to this wound now as best I can,' he said. 'We will find a healer later, but for now this cannot wait.' Without a second thought, he pulled off his trousers and began tearing it into bandages for Malaria's Knee.

With this makeshift bandage in place, Malaria and Legolas were able to hurry on their way. The cries of orcs were ever-present behind them, but they ran swiftly. Soon, Malaria found herself in front of a small cabin, which she guessed must belong to Legolas. He held the door open as he stepped inside, beckoning for her to follow him. 'Come in,' he said. 'We will be much safer in here.'

Malaria took a deep breath as she stepped toward the cabin door. Here she was, a young virgin noblewoman, about to be alone in a cabin with someone she had just met. It was true he was the most handsome Elf she had ever seen, and he had just saved her life, but were his true intentions that noble? And what would her family, especially her father, say once they found out where she had been? Malaria had half a mind to run back home right then, but as she heard the clamour of orcs drawing nearer once more, she realised she had no choice. She steeled her will and followed Legolas into the cabin, shutting the door firmly behind her.