Blue Returns

The forest was brighter than I remembered it, then maybe it was just me. Even though I knew the enemy shadow was gone, I was on constant alert. My hood was raised, preventing inhabitants from identifying me—or recognizing me. I smiled. It had worked so far. The border guards, many whom I recognized, didn't have the slightest clue to who they had just confronted.

I change my route, instead of heading to the castle, I went to a place I knew he would be. I was close. I passed the familiar stream and trees I recognized. However, my memory must have failed me. I arrived at where I remembered the cottage, but it wasn't there. Nothing was there.

Figuring I must just have the wrong location, I turned and walked to the castle slightly disturbed.

I shuttered as the palace grounds came into view, and my smile disappeared as I saw the courtyard. My feet stopped on their own accord as I stared at the spot. A shiver snaked up my spine and I tore my eyes away, pulling a blank scroll from the recesses of my cloak and jogged to the entrance of the king's home—no, Legolas' home.

As expected, I was stopped by the palace guards who demanded the reason of my presence.

"An urgent message for His Highness, Prince Legolas," I replied holding the mashed scroll for them to see. The guard to my right made a move as if to take the scroll, but I moved it away. "I was bidden specifically from my king to make sure the contents are seen to no one other than the prince and am to see to it personally."

Nodding in understanding, the guard ushered me to follow him. The path we walked was a familiar one, and I found myself facing a door I would be happy never seeing again.

The throne room was exactly how I remembered it. At the long table, I recognized Lord Naellen, the king…the my eyes settled on the face I had only seen in my dreams for the past decade. He looked up as the doors shut and at first he didn't see me, but looked to the guard.

"My pardons, my lords," the guard greeted with a bow. "An urgent message has just arrived for the prince." He moved aside, and the Lords' eyes settled on me. I was more than glad my hood was drawn. However, my eyes were fixed on one set in the room.

His eyes perked in interest upon hearing his name, and I smiled. Apparently he did not receive many messages. I was glad, though, that I had changed from my blue cloak. He did not recognize me, but he was weary as to why his messenger would remain hooded in court.

"My lord," I greeted with a bow, lowering my voice for the sake of remaining unrecognized. "Lord Ellessar of Minas Tirith sent me. He gave me word regarding the lands of Ithilian you questioned him about." I neared the table and he stood to accept the message, his fingers lingering just longer than necessary, and his gaze piercing the darkness hidden by my hood.

Before he had the chance to open it, I continued. "And I also was bidden to return this." I reached inside my cloak and undid my belt, causing many of the lords to murmur and Legolas' eyes to widen. I smirked and slid one of the swords from leather before tightening once more. Finally visible, I produced the silver sheathed sword and laid it in his waiting hands.

He stared at it for a few moments, unsheathed it and looked at the blade. I could tell that as soon as his eyes laid on the hilt he recognized the sword and why he had not seen it in over a decade.

He looked up at me, his eyes wide. "Where did you get this?"

I smiled widely, but remembered he could not see it. "I was bidden to give it to you, your highness."

Perhaps he could sense the humor in my voice for he stepped forward, becoming angry. "Where—" he stopped abruptly, aware of everyone else in the court. He cleared his throat and clasped his hands behind his back casually. "Where did you say you were sent from?"

"I have traveled from Minas Tirith, but journeys took me far from here before I ever reached there to be sent here."

The lords murmured at my odd response and Legolas looked at me, silently questioning to not speak in riddles.

"The parchment, my lord, is from Gondor, but the sword is from somewhere much closer. I was told you would know."

The Elf's eyes traveled between the two gifts. "Of course," he mumbled, placing the sword down on the table carefully, and hesitating before unraveling the parchment.

Of course, his reaction to the blank sheet of paper was what I could expect. He crumpled it in his fist and put the sword in his belt.

"Sir," he addressed me, his voice in check. "I believe we have much to speak of." He turned to his father. "Would you please excuse me?"

I followed him out the door and worried my lower lip as he strode down hallways I did not recognize. I could barely contain my happiness to see him, but I couldn't make myself known, not yet. He had to figure it out himself, or he would be angry and disbelieving. No, I knew what I would have to do when I decided on this entrance and I would have to keep to it.

He entered a door that had his name finely scripted on the wood. I wondered if he changed rooms, but as soon as I entered, I knew this wasn't his quarters, but his study.

I shut the door behind me and turned around, half expecting him to slam me against the wall and demand answers from me or rip off my hood, both which I was prepared for.

He did neither, but paced before his desk before sitting down behind it. He put his head in his hands, his anger gone. "She's dead, isn't she?"

His words startled me. "Begging your pardon, my lord?"

"How did it happen?"

"Your highness, I never said she was dead," I replied, having difficulties disguising my voice.

"Just tell me where she is," he pleaded.

"She did as you asked and went to where you asked only to find the place gone," I said, my voice unhindered.

He looked up in surprise. "The cottage burned down years ago…" he replied, his words coming out slow as he wondered how I could know the information I was supplying. "What did she do when she discovered this?" he asked, coming toward me slowly.

"She came looking at the palace for you."

"And when she the gates, did she conceal her identity?" he whispered as he stood in front of me, his fingers reaching under the hood. I closed my eyes as I waited for the light to hit my face, but it did not. Instead of lowering my hood, his fingers reached inside the depths and touched my face, tracing my features. His fingers drifted over my cheeks, to my nose, brushing against my eyelashes, until the finally grazed my lips.

"Did she lose her blue cloak?" I could hear the smile in his voice.

I shook my head, his close proximity sending my head spinning. I reached into the cloak and pulled the article from within, holding it out to him, but he disregarded it, sweeping me into his arms and twirled me around

"Oh, I've missed you so! That was the cruelest…" he growled, holding me tight against him. I don't think either of us could believe the moment had finally come. We stood there, clutching each other.

"Don't ever leave me again," he sighed, stroking my hair. "I don't think I'll survive."

"Legolas…" I looked into his eyes, seeing the grief and pain first hand. "I'm sorry—"

"No," he said firmly. "Let us not dwell on the past. How did you know about Ithilien?"

"I didn't lie when I said Aragorn sent me. I went to Minas Tirith as soon as I heard about his coronation and the destruction of the Ring. I thought the Fellowship was there. However, they told me I had missed you."

"His coronation?"

"Apparently you then decided to go run off to go exploring with a certain dwarf?"

His expression was priceless. He appeared to be mortified at the thought of missing me by a matter of days because of his promise to go to the Glittering Caves with Gimli.

"Aluhin…"

I smiled as he said my name for the first time since my return. "Don't worry. Aragorn took care of me while we waited for word. Gimli returned when Arwen gave birth to Eldarion and we were expecting you also." I offered him a small smile. " I planned to surprise you. But when you did not arrive with Gimli…I was sure you had died in the caves. However, Aragorn assured me that after speaking with the dwarf he discovered you had only returned home and would be unable to attend."

"Aragorn had a son?" Legolas asked, bewildered.

"Of course. He sent word to you. The messenger arrived replying that you wouldn't make it."

The Elf shook his head. "I am sorry I missed you, but thank you for returning," he murmured, nuzzling his head in the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry it took so long."

"I told you I would wait for an eternity for you, but after that day I didn't think I would see you in this life." He touched my abdomen. "How did you survive?"

I lifted my shirt to show him the scar. "Black's a phoenix. Healing powers," I replied as he traced the white scar tissue.

He nodded. "If she wasn't such foul company, I would keep her around more often. She would prove to be a good ally."

My mood instantly sobered. "Black is no more."

He stilled. "What?"

"She's gone. She found the man who mutated her all those years ago. She let us go. Then she was gone. Green—the pirate—said she had been trying to die for more millennia than history could count…" I trailed off, tears in my eyes. "I know she was cruel to me most of the time, but I owe her so much. She taught me more than I could ever dream of knowing."

He embraced me in his arms. "I know its hard, but she is no longer suffering. She's where she wants to be."

I nodded and pulled away, looking at him as he brushed away my tears. "You've changed so much…" he whispered, letting his fingers brush against my skin.

"For the better, I hope?" He nodded with a smile. "I have a surprise for you," I whispered.

His smile grew and he leaned in the kiss me, "Better than you being here?" he mumbled against my lips.

"What would you say if I decided to stick around…for a long time?" I asked taking his hand to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.

He froze, his eyes staring into mine, and his smile faded. I dropped my hand, leaving him to do what he will. I expected him to be startled and waited patiently for the information to sink in.

His fingers traced the ear slowly and I shuttered, biting my lip. "Don't do that too much," I whispered, my eyes slipping closed briefly.

"Wha…how?" he asked, ignoring my plea.

"Old man. He was some type of wizard. I found a potion for immortality and drank it. I didn't think the ears came with it." I fought against a smile as I thought of how the ears came about, and I shivered remembering the pain.

When I opened my eyes he was grinning from ear to pointed ear. I couldn't help but sport a mirroring smile.

"Are you upset?"

"Do I look upset?"

I only smiled and kissed him.