AllTheRoses1

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me, and I have used them without permission. Saqarra and Tristan belong to me. I am making no profit from this, so please refrain from suing me. The quoted lyrics are from the song Queen of Argyle, written by Andy Stewart and performed by the Minstrels of Mayhem. It is used with the ever gracious permission of Ty and Jerry.

All The Roses In The Garden

Legolas walked silenty through the woods, his senses honed for any sign of danger. It was still early, and he did not yet have the watch. Aragorn did, and was closer to the campsite. But the elf was unable to sleep, as usual, his thoughts too tangled to allow him to rest. It had been two days since Gandalf had told the legend of the Morning Star, and Legolas had been unable to keep it from his thoughts. Each night, he waited with great anticipation; hoping for another glimpse of her. But she had not made an appearence as yet, and he was beginning to doubt that she would. He could not explain his need to see her again, only knew that it was overwhelming. As was the sadness that had now set in, as he began to accept the fact that she was gone.

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Gentlemen it is my duty

To inform you of one beauty

Though I ask of you a favor, not to seek her for a while

For no words could paint a picture of the Queen of all Argyle

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Suddenly, the sound of sobbing came to him. He stopped, trying to pin down the direction from which the sound was coming. It was very faint, but he could hear it well enough to know that it was the weeping of a woman. It was a mournful weeping, full of utter despair. The weeping of one who had lost everything, and teetered on the edge of a dark abyss. A part of him was stirred by the sound, deep down within his soul. He had to find the woman, whoever she was. And there was a more selfish part of him, a part that he tried to deny, that wanted it to be Saqarra. For, if it was her, he would see her again. And perhaps, if fate was kind, he would speak to her.

He headed off in the dirtection of the sound, weaving silently through the trees. It did not take long for him to near the source of the sobbing, as a clearing appeared up ahead of him. He crept to it's edge, not wanting to frighten whomever was there. As he peered through the trees, his gaze fell upon the ruins of a once great temple. And there, on the remaining stone steps, set the Morning Star. She sat very still, her head held in her hands. Even from his distance, he could see the tears as they slipped through her fingers; falling to the ground like diamonds. His heart went out to her, she seemed so lost and alone. The shadows from the trees danced across her, leaving eerie patterns on her skin. But even in the dark of night, she seemed to shine. Beside her, the black wolf raised his head; his eyes scanning the edge of the forest. He was lying very near to her, one large paw resting atop her leg. There was something vaguely intimate in the simple gesture, something that made Gandalf's tale seem more real.

Taking a deep breath, Legolas stepped into the clearing; intent on speaking to the weeping elf. The wolf watched him warily as he approached, a low growl piercing the night between them. Saqarra seemed unaware of him, and the wolf's aggitation; her head never raising to look at either of them. As he neared her, the great balck wolf rose to his feet; his eyes meeting the eyes of the elf. His lips curled back, revealing glittering white fangs. He was prepared to defend his master to the death, and Legolas was not at all prepared to kill him.

"Saqarra?", he whispered; stopping a few feet from her.

She looked up at him, startled by the soft voice. Her golden eyes shone with tears, a monumental sadness reflected in their bottomless pools. She smiled weakly at him, recognizing him as one of her own.

"You are Saqarra, aren't you?", he asked hopefully.

"Yes, I am.", she answered wearily. "Do I know you?"

"We have not met, but I have seen you."

"Wait, I do know who you are. You are traveling with the ringbearer.", she said

"Yes, I am traveling with the Fellowship."

"The what?"

"The Fellowship of the Ring.", he replied; as if she should have heard of them.

"I see.", she said; obviously not understanding, but humoring him anyway.

"My name is Legolas, by the way."

Saqarra stood up, extending her hand to him and smiling sweetly. He looked at her strangely, until she took his hand in hers and shook it gently. He seemed like a nice enough person, and she liked him already. As a matter of fact, she had been rather smitten from the moment that she had seen him; two days before. She released his hand and sat back down on the steps, motioning for him to sit down beside her. He smiled sheepishly, taking a seat next to her; and eyeing the wolf warily. The wolf, seemingly content with his master's decision, settled back down beside her. His paw came once again to rest on her leg, and once more Legolas was struck by the intimacy of it. Legolas seemed suddenly nervous, his eyes darting around the clearing as if he expected to be caught by someone.

"Why are you out here all alone?", he asked; already knowing the answer.

"I'm not alone, I have Tristan.", she answered; pointedly not answering the question.

"Of course."

"And I can take care of myself, if it comes to that."

"I am sure that you could."

"Besides, you are out here all alone as well.", she pointed out.

"Yes, I am aware of that. I was just.....I had the watch, and I heard someone crying.", he lied.

"Oh.", she whispered.

"Are you.....alright?"

"Yes, I am fine."

"Then I suppose that you cry often?", he prodded.

"Do not ask questions to which you do not want the answers.", she said cryptically.

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And if you could have seen her there,

Boys if you had just been there.

The swan was in her movement and the morning in her smile.

All the roses in the garden,

They would bow and ask her pardon.

For not one could match the beauty of the Queen of all Argyle

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Legolas looked at her oddly, unsure of what to say. The silence between them grew, not all together uncomfortable. Saqarra knew that she should go, she had much to do. But there was something about the strange elf that made her loathe to leave. She felt a kinship with him, one that she could not understand. And a tingling in the pit of her stomach when he looked at her, his ice-blue eyes meeting hers. Legolas blushed, realizing that she had caught him staring at her. He suddenly looked away from her, as he felt himself falling into her eyes.

"I should go.", he said.

"As should I.", she replied.

They both stood, prepared to go their seperate ways. But the sound of approaching hoofbeats stopped them, as they waited to see what was coming. Legolas thought the sound was familiar, but was not certain if the rider would be friend or foe. Pulling his bow, he took aim and waited.

~To Be Continued

On to part two

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