Shafts of crystalline light shone through the forestry. Silence echoed over the idyllic glades until oftimes it was disturbed by the calls of the birds and small creatures that made their homes here. Legolas surveyed the province of Rivendell with wonderment, almost as an artist who recovers from a passion of creativity to find strokes of genius upon his canvas.
It was perfect. Of course that was why it had been chosen Legolas thought to himself. Aragorn had said, "everything must be right, perfect, like my Arwen." Legolas stifled a grin as he remembered Aragorn as a youth, adamantly declaring that he would never fall in love. Then it happened, Aragorn had found Arwen filling up a vase with elven waters. His heart had betrayed him. He said "Vanimle sila tiri, Tinuvial" which translates from its native elvish as "your beauty shines bright, Nightingale"
Legolas now laughed freely as he thought of Aragorn, the figure of masculinity, professing such poetry. Yet as he well knew, Arwen had not laughed, in fact she had conveyed no notion of hearing his outburst, except a brief glance and the ghost of a smile upon her lips, and having filled the vase, she stood and carefully walked on. That was their first meeting, and now after many years it was their wedding day.
The elf wandered on, reminiscing about their courtship and the memories he had been so privileged to share in. Eventually he came to the clearing that had been set aside for the ceremony. Legolas hovered uncertainly for a moment before settling himself against a conveniently placed oak tree. He gazed at the magnificent wedding arch. It was wrought from polished silver and adorned with curling vines that blossomed into Elanor, the yellow flower that had given Aragorn hope that day long ago. The flowers themselves intertwined like clasping hands, together forever.
A silent tear traced the elf's cheek. He was happy for Aragorn and Arwen, yet in the midst of this joy he felt for them, he knew a bitter sorrow. He was still alone.
So engrossed was he in his thoughts, he did not hear Arwen approaching. She stood before him, studying his features intently. Finally she spoke, her voice filled with the compassion that only a woman can convey. "You will not wander alone, Poikaer."
"You know not that that is true, Mellonamin" he sighed.
"Who would not have you Legolas? I can feel your desperation intensifying. But know this, your immortality is a blessing. She is waiting for you, of that I am sure"
Legolas shook his head sadly and said "What if I am destined to be alone? The blessing quickly turns to a curse, a curse without end."
She smiled and took his hand in hers, "Compared to our people, you are still young, fair one. You have much to learn that Love will teach you in her own time." Arwen whispered gently. Her voice was soothing and Legolas took comfort in her wisdom.
Arwen knew she could do no more for him presently, she stood and said "Namaarie" Legolas who was once more lost to his thoughts, did not heed her leaving.
When he next saw her, she was wearing her wedding finery. A white fitted dress, fashioned from the purest silk with a honey coloured sash draped loosely about her slim waist. He observed the true happiness that radiated from her already fair face. It could only be mirrored to perfection by her husband-to-be, Aragorn.
The gathering was select. Besides himself, Legolas noted; the remaining members of the Fellowship, Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn, some elves that Legolas knew only by sight. Friends of Aragorn's he presumed, and there were also some elven maidens. As is the elven tradition, the guests held hands, forming a ring, the recognised symbol of eternity.
One of the maidens caught his attention. An awkward smile played on her lips, and her dark eyes complied with the general uneasiness that she seemed to emit. Perhaps he would not have noticed her so readily, he mused, if she had not provided such a startling contrast to the beaming Arwen, it was this that made him discern her from the others, her whole façade echoed his inner torment.
Her melancholy beauty struck him, and he stood unmoving as he continued to regard her in this way. Until, emerging from his reverie, his cerulean blue eyes wandered from this womanly vision to meet Aragorn's grey ones. He was surprised to see Aragorn smiling knowingly at him.
He averted his eyes, uncomfortable with the man guessing his emotions so confidently and indeed correctly. His gaze returned unintentionally to the female elf he had been drawn to. As he looked in her direction, he realised that she was staring back at him. The state of despair he felt started to diminish as a ray of hope flickered within his heart. The connection between the two elves was interrupted as the other people present started to chorus the customary wedding song.
Poikaer = Pure one
Mellonamin = My Friend
Namaarie = Farewell
It was perfect. Of course that was why it had been chosen Legolas thought to himself. Aragorn had said, "everything must be right, perfect, like my Arwen." Legolas stifled a grin as he remembered Aragorn as a youth, adamantly declaring that he would never fall in love. Then it happened, Aragorn had found Arwen filling up a vase with elven waters. His heart had betrayed him. He said "Vanimle sila tiri, Tinuvial" which translates from its native elvish as "your beauty shines bright, Nightingale"
Legolas now laughed freely as he thought of Aragorn, the figure of masculinity, professing such poetry. Yet as he well knew, Arwen had not laughed, in fact she had conveyed no notion of hearing his outburst, except a brief glance and the ghost of a smile upon her lips, and having filled the vase, she stood and carefully walked on. That was their first meeting, and now after many years it was their wedding day.
The elf wandered on, reminiscing about their courtship and the memories he had been so privileged to share in. Eventually he came to the clearing that had been set aside for the ceremony. Legolas hovered uncertainly for a moment before settling himself against a conveniently placed oak tree. He gazed at the magnificent wedding arch. It was wrought from polished silver and adorned with curling vines that blossomed into Elanor, the yellow flower that had given Aragorn hope that day long ago. The flowers themselves intertwined like clasping hands, together forever.
A silent tear traced the elf's cheek. He was happy for Aragorn and Arwen, yet in the midst of this joy he felt for them, he knew a bitter sorrow. He was still alone.
So engrossed was he in his thoughts, he did not hear Arwen approaching. She stood before him, studying his features intently. Finally she spoke, her voice filled with the compassion that only a woman can convey. "You will not wander alone, Poikaer."
"You know not that that is true, Mellonamin" he sighed.
"Who would not have you Legolas? I can feel your desperation intensifying. But know this, your immortality is a blessing. She is waiting for you, of that I am sure"
Legolas shook his head sadly and said "What if I am destined to be alone? The blessing quickly turns to a curse, a curse without end."
She smiled and took his hand in hers, "Compared to our people, you are still young, fair one. You have much to learn that Love will teach you in her own time." Arwen whispered gently. Her voice was soothing and Legolas took comfort in her wisdom.
Arwen knew she could do no more for him presently, she stood and said "Namaarie" Legolas who was once more lost to his thoughts, did not heed her leaving.
When he next saw her, she was wearing her wedding finery. A white fitted dress, fashioned from the purest silk with a honey coloured sash draped loosely about her slim waist. He observed the true happiness that radiated from her already fair face. It could only be mirrored to perfection by her husband-to-be, Aragorn.
The gathering was select. Besides himself, Legolas noted; the remaining members of the Fellowship, Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn, some elves that Legolas knew only by sight. Friends of Aragorn's he presumed, and there were also some elven maidens. As is the elven tradition, the guests held hands, forming a ring, the recognised symbol of eternity.
One of the maidens caught his attention. An awkward smile played on her lips, and her dark eyes complied with the general uneasiness that she seemed to emit. Perhaps he would not have noticed her so readily, he mused, if she had not provided such a startling contrast to the beaming Arwen, it was this that made him discern her from the others, her whole façade echoed his inner torment.
Her melancholy beauty struck him, and he stood unmoving as he continued to regard her in this way. Until, emerging from his reverie, his cerulean blue eyes wandered from this womanly vision to meet Aragorn's grey ones. He was surprised to see Aragorn smiling knowingly at him.
He averted his eyes, uncomfortable with the man guessing his emotions so confidently and indeed correctly. His gaze returned unintentionally to the female elf he had been drawn to. As he looked in her direction, he realised that she was staring back at him. The state of despair he felt started to diminish as a ray of hope flickered within his heart. The connection between the two elves was interrupted as the other people present started to chorus the customary wedding song.
Poikaer = Pure one
Mellonamin = My Friend
Namaarie = Farewell