LOTR || ⤜𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩 → [Legolas x OC]

⤜ 17 → the Curse of Time

The location was not what Rosa had expected.

Truthfully, she didn't quite know what she expected. But it certainly wasn't a ring of waterfall in the centre of a vast lake.

No, seriously. It was quite literally that.

When the company broke through the treeline, they came upon a huge glittering lake. A series of smooth grey stones in the water led to the middle, where a curtain of waterfall curved around to form a huge ring of water central to the lake. Rosa tilted her head back the furthest she could, but she still could not see where the water came from. It seemed as though the heavens themselves had opened up to rain down upon the lake, and that was the source of the waterfall and the shimmering mist of precipitation circling it in a parade of colours.

"Here we must meet the lord and lady of the Golden Woods," Haldir announced, returning to the front of the group where he led the way across the stepping-stones.

Legolas went after Haldir, followed by Gimli. Then it was her turn.

She briskly fell into step behind the dwarf and trailed the distance to the middle.

She could see no opening near the top nor at the sides. The only other option was to swim under the waterfall and enter beneath it – she certainly hoped this was not the case.

The roaring sound of the waterfall grew louder as they neared, and soon, white foam began bubbling around the stones under her feet. Despite the wet, shiny appearance of the rocks, she was surprised to realise they were not slippery at all. The stepping-stones were also wide enough to allow two people to walk across simultaneously with ease.

When they finally reached the falls, the noise became almost unbearable to the point where she could not even hear her own self over the ground-shaking roar of the water. Rosa looked around, expecting something to happen. Perhaps a sign to dive into the water and swim beneath it? But surely the force of the waterfall would deem it impossible to swim across.

Instead – and much to Rosa's relief and puzzlement - Haldir walked straight through the falls and disappeared on the other side.

Legolas did the same, and so did Gimli, completely vanishing from view.

When it was her turn, she hesitated. Rosa could very easily turn around and slip away. Then she wouldn't have to face Galadriel. But there was a constant internal battle between the desire for adventure and the rational sense of fear. Feeling a gentle hand on her shoulder as Aragorn encouraged her to go forth, she cracked a smile, knowing that adventure won the battle.

Again, as always.

So with a surge of confidence, she held her breath, squeezed shut her eyes and shot forward.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

On the other side of the falls, Legolas waited for Aragorn and the girl to come through. He did not have wait long, for a small figure stumbled through the water and into the wide, airy space inside the falls.

He watched her eyes open and look down, her expression stunned to see the water had not touched a single part of her body and she stood completely dry.

Magic, of course.

Then she looked around, realising the roar of the falls had completely silenced as she entered. There were no thundering and deafening noises inside, only the tranquil calm and quiet of a hushed dawn.

Magic, again.

Aragorn appeared beside the elf, having walked through the falls just a moment earlier. He surveyed the vast room, ensconced within the waterfall and hidden from all prying eyes and ears outside.