~Legolas is surprised over his feelings but doesn't know quite how to handle them, and Lasriel has regrets.~

~♕~

"Some people are worth melting for."

– Olaf, Frozen

~♕~

22. Jealous

Legolas wished it wasn't fashionable for ladies to show that much skin. Lasriel's low decolletage exposed the swell of her breasts and he was not the only one whose eyes were drawn there. Lord Amrothos had certainly enjoyed the view, to name one.

When they danced, Legolas kept Lasriel closer than customarily in a feeble attempt to shield her from the men's gazes. If only he could avoid ever bringing her among human lords again... but of course he must. He depended on their money and one of the reasons he married Lasriel in the first place was to have a wife at his side on occasions such as this.

It was not a pleasurable dance, despite her warm, supple form in his arms. He had still not calmed down after the shock of finding his room empty and realizing Lasriel had gone out alone in a dangerous city, or the increasing worry as he and his guards searched for her in vain for what felt like several hours until they finally found her.

That, too, had been a shock. He would never forget the sight of that crowd of muscular, dirty worker men ogling her, and worst of all, her returning their gazes with a sweet, flirtatious smile that made Legolas want to strangle first them and then her. Did she find them attractive? Was it their bulky forms, or the scruffy beards perhaps? Their round ears?

And just now during the dance she had done it again, only this time it was the fine lords she chatted with and smiled to, all the while flaunting her shapely form and graceful movements.

He tightened his grip around her waist. It was him she should look at that way, like she had always done before, almost for as long as he had known her. But thinking back, it had been a while since last time. When had she stopped? And why?

She had led a secluded life. Maybe broadening her horizons and meeting new people had made her husband less appealing in her eyes? The thought was like a punch to his gut.

~♕~

As soon as the music ended, Legolas led Lasriel away from the dance floor. "It is time to leave," he said, praying she wouldn't make a fuss and demand another dance. Or worse, a dance with another of the sleazy lords.

"If you say so," she murmured, eyes turned down – and lips too.

With another gut-punch, he realized she was afraid. Of him, of his anger. She expected him to scold her, which must mean she knew she had done something wrong. If she really had been flirting with the humans, then that could be why she acted this way.

Clenching his teeth, he decided to hold his tongue. He didn't think he could stand her tears on top of everything – for, by now he knew she always cried when they argued.

Instead he bid Gimli, Aragorn and Arwen farewell a little curtly, hoping they would believe he really was tired when he left so early.

He felt their gazes on his back as he hurried out.

During the ride down the city, Legolas pondered over the situation. His own reaction in all this surprised him. Lasriel was an elleth and elves always married for life; it wasn't as if she would – or even could – be unfaithful. Then why did he care so much about whether she was still attracted to him?

It wasn't only injured pride. It was something else. Something deeper...

He turned his head towards her, admiring her beauty and recalling how sweet she could be. The way her eyes sparkled when she gushed about a book or other, or when they were little, how she would always think of fun, new games. He had taken her for granted, not appreciating what he had until now when it might be too late.

Again and again he glanced at her, trying to catch her gaze but without success. She rode demurely, not even regarding the beautiful scenery like she normally did.

How could he restore her affection?

Back at their hostel room, they started to make themselves ready for bed, still in dull silence.

Watching Lasriel undress, wash her face and comb her hair was an unexpectedly pleasant novelty – at home, she would already lie ready under her comforter when he entered her room – and though she still wore her long undershirt her curves hinted through the thin linen.

It had a dramatic effect on Legolas' nether regions, giving him an almost painful erection. It had been weeks since they were intimate and he struggled to wait patiently until she was done.

When he could finally roll on top of her, he knew at once he wouldn't last long. The feeling as her warmth enveloped him was glorious. He stopped breathing, stopped thinking, pounding into her with abandon.

Seconds later it was over and he noticed her tight, pink face and closed eyes where she lay beneath him. It struck him she might still be thinking about the men at the building site. Did she imagine what they would be like in bed? Human men were probably great lovers considering how they were known to often be experienced when they got married, having already slept with many girls before then. Perhaps they were better endowed than elves as well, who knew?

He wished he was a fantasy elf prince like in that book instead of a simple archer and forester who didn't know anything about ellith.

Watching Lasriel now, Legolas wanted to beg her to look at him the way she did before their marriage, or at least tell him what he had done wrong so he could change. Should he cut his hair and wear it in a human fashion, or put on clothes similar to theirs? He would grow a beard if he could. Anything to get her admiration back.

If only he had someone to talk to, someone who could give him advice. But Gimli was a single dwarf, and as for Aragorn, he was a natural at pleasing females and wouldn't know anything about marriage problems, having both caught the eyes of the fair and cold maiden Éowyn of Rohan in the past, and later made one of the most beautiful ladies in Middle-earth give up her elvish immortality for him so they could wed.

No, Legolas' friends wouldn't be of any help.

He buried his nose in Lasriel's hair, trying to hold back tears of shame and jealousy, wishing for the hundredth time that he could leave everything behind and sail west.

~♕~

Lasriel squeezed her eyes shut, tears burning in their corners. The act had been painful again, almost like the first few times, but the fact that Legolas was so upset when he bedded her hurt more. She could still feel how tense he was.

He didn't move away directly this time. She might have enjoyed that in other circumstances, reveled in the closeness, but now his strong arms around her made her feel trapped. As though Legolas wanted to hinder her from walking out again. Chaining her to the room, and to the bed.

Would he put even more guards around her now? Perhaps she wouldn't even be able to continue making bricks. Then she would be a prisoner for real.

Raising himself on his elbows, Legolas regarded her with an expression she couldn't interpret. Then he turned his gaze to her neckline, pulling it lower with a finger, exposing one of her breasts. She could see the rapid pulse on his temple as he almost feverishly entered her a second time.

Again his tempo was hard and fast, but now it didn't hurt, perhaps because she was already slippery with his seed. The way he had looked at her breast surprised her, for it seemed his anger was gone and replaced with... something. Lust? Had he finally started to desire her?

Closing her eyes, she angled her hips to meet his thrusts like she had that time before, trying to let go of her previous dismay and for once enjoy the moment. Something was building within her, like an itch that his movements just barely managed to scratch, and she focused on that sensation, chasing it.

She was almost there when he froze above her as he finished.

"Look at me."

Surprised at his tone, she obeyed, and immediately saw that the anger was back.

"What are you thinking of?" he demanded.

She didn't know what to reply to that; she hadn't really thought about anything – except for how it felt. The way he felt when moving within her. "Nothing," she mumbled, cheeks growing warm.

"Nothing? Sure." He rolled off, turning his back towards her and lay still.

Regarding his stiff shoulders, Lasriel again tried to check her tears. She had looked forward to sleeping in the same bed and waking up together, but instead she got this harsh treatment. As if she had done something wrong.

But she hadn't. It was he who was wrong, who tried to control her and stop her from enjoying herself in the city. Married or not, he had no right to do that! And now he demanded even to have access to her private thoughts!

This was not the elf she had been best friends with as a child. He had grown into a grumpy, unfair, quarrelsome stranger, who didn't care one bit about Lasriel or her wellbeing. Who loved his trees more than her.

Giving up her struggle to hold them back, Lasriel let her tears flow freely, burying her face in the pillow to muffle any sounds. For the first time she regretted her marriage, but now it was too late. She was stuck with Legolas forever.

~♕~

Lasriel didn't sleep at all that night. After her initial burst of emotions, she soon calmed down and began to think through the situation. It was not in her nature to give up in the face of problems; there must be a way to solve this. Hence, when they arrived at their home the next day, she finally had a plan.

It was time to get that elfling.

She knew Legolas would love his child even if he never acquired warmer feelings towards its mother, and if he had a baby to protect and fuss over he would hopefully allow Lasriel her freedom again. In addition, it would give her at least one loving family member.

But ellith didn't get pregnant easily, so in order to succeed she must do everything she could to increase the chances. She would learn what food to eat, how to exercise, what day in the month was the most suitable to become impregnated – and for that, she needed to educate herself. There were bound to be books about it she could buy, and if not, even ones about animal husbandry might do. After all, the process was pretty similar in animals, humans and elves.

And then, there was that other book... the one from Harad. Even if Lasriel could never win her husband's love, she might learn a few tricks on how to make him look at her with lust again. It would be endlessly better than this.

"I need a book from the market in Osgiliath," she told him.

"It's too dangerous to go there." He didn't look at her when he replied; since yesterday he had been remote and distant like only he knew how.

"I can ride with Galion. And we will bring a guard as well, don't worry."

That caught his attention. "Galion?" For some reason his cheeks flushed with annoyance. "No."

Though Lasriel had expected as much, his flat refusal made her blood boil. She wanted to yell that it was for his damn sake and she didn't enjoy making a baby anymore than he did.

Instead she turned her gaze down and meekly replied. "Then I will find another way."

She waited until the next day when Legolas had gone to work, and then swiftly went to see Galion. To her dismay she noticed there was an extra guard left in the colony.

Or should she say jailer?

Galion rubbed his eyes tiredly when he opened to her knock, but when he saw her face he straightened up. "What is the matter?"

"I need your help." Pushing down her embarrassment and humiliation, Lasriel described the books she needed, and where to find at least one of them.

Blushing hotly, Galion still gave her a compassionate look. "I will get them for you." He pressed her shoulder. "I am sorry about this. I had no idea things were so... bad between you."

She gave him a grim smile. "Don't worry. I will fix it. I am good at fixing broken things, you know."

A/N:

She is, indeed. But can she really fix this? What do you think?

As usual I'm super happy for your kind comments and votes! xx So encouraging. :) And thanks for your patience with these two dorks lol.