Long Strange Trip
Summary: Basically, Legolas sits down to tell the story of his life. The fic begins when he starts of telling what happened at the end of the War of the Ring and on from that.
Before the Battle of the Gates:
I sit here under a tree, in the refreshing shade with my companions, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin.
We know we are to go to battle soon. We are at Minas Tirith. We have just yesterday won the battle for the city. It was the greatest and most terrible one I have seen or participated in. This goes to show that some even more terrible awaits us.
Nobody in the world knows their own fate anymore, and it looks grim. Neither do we, and in my heart I know my friends half expect death.
The only thing that keeps Gimli's heart bright now is the thought of living through war to explore the world, the great cavernous cities of his kin, and (with some hesitation) the woods of mine.
I know the hobbit keep themselves sane with thoughts of returning to their beloved Shire, a place where they are free to be wrapped up in their own quaint lives, to be in isolated peace.
Aragorn, who is conferring with Gandalf now, is kept alive only by thoughts of his distant love Arwen. As for me, there is a girl from Ithilien who came from Osgiliath in Faramir's care. I do not know her, for we have not exchanged ten words.
What keeps me here is what I have seen this afternoon. I saw gulls over flying over my head for the first time in my long life. And for the first time, I felt the calling of the sea as some of my kin have before me.
I could never understand it before, but I do now. And I know I shall join them one day, in some way or form. Or perhaps that is wishful thinking.
Still, I wonder if there is any hope for left in the world. That when we go to face our purest form of utter enemy, that we may come out with our souls still dwelling in our bodies.
Shall it be that I can return from battle and go home, only then to explore the world with Gimli? Perhaps I could see a brighter Moria, or visit the Shire that my halfling friends so treasure?
I only wish there is good fortune waiting for the rest of us. But everything is in the hands of us now.