The History of Legolas – Part III
I Aear Cân Ven Na Mar
The Sea Calls Us Home
By Vendie

Author's Note: The Lord of the Rings and all associated characters belong to Tolkien and his estate. I am not making any profit off of this story, save the enjoyment I had making it.

This is the third and final installment of The History of Legolas series (which was previously a sequel, not part of the original trilogy). This story is almost entirely re-written and I would definitely encourage all who are interested to re-read it and see what's changed… because there's not a chapter herein I didn't majorly revise. I didn't set out to make so many substantive changes, actually, but once I started edits these characters just went off on their own, I swear.

I would like to make clear from the beginning that what I originally set out to do was to get inside Legolas' head a bit about the Sea Longing, and what, if anything besides the Sea itself, would cause a Wood Elf to sail West. This is in part a love story; but no Tenth Walker.

Before we get started, I want to give a quick hat tip to the Elvish resources on Arwen-Undomiel, Hiswelókë's Sindarin dictionary, and Ardalambion.

I'd also like to acknowledge some of the authors whose writing has been inspirational and instructive to my own writing, especially as I revisited this story. You can find their stories in my "favorites" section, and I really do recommend you check them out! Thanks to Starlight9, Nilmandra, Thundera Tiger, Scribe, and VanaTheEverYoung (who may be found on Open Scrolls Archive).

Thank you for your interest in my writing, and without further delay, please enjoy the story!

Blessings,

Vendie

I Aear Cân Ven Na Mar
The Sea Calls Us Home
Chapter One – Nâ I Onnad

"I think, my lord, we are being followed."

Legolas turned to his right to see Eregdos, one of the elves appointed to guard the emissary to Imladris, riding next to him.

"Aye, I have sensed it also," the prince replied softly as he returned his gaze to the road ahead.

A week ago, Legolas had departed his father's halls to deliver the message to Elrond that Gollum had escaped their custody and fled to the south of Mirkwood. Two of his father's advisors, Saelon and Gelir, accompanied Legolas, as well as a handful of Mirkwood warriors to ensure safe passage. The party was near the borders of the forest now, but almost two days out of the Elvenking's halls, Legolas had noticed a presence nearby. Whatever was skulking behind them seemed not inclined to inflict harm upon the elves, because it had not attacked – not yet, anyway. But the strangest part of this development was that Legolas somehow was under the impression that the presence behind them was very familiar. If it was of the Eldar, however, he or she had disguised their fëa.

"I think that when we reach the borders of the forest, we might rest a bit and attempt to discover this shadow we've acquired," Legolas said to Eregdos. The guard nodded and pushed his steed forward ahead of the party slightly, back to the position he had been in previously.

"What was that about?" A nasal voice asked from slightly behind him. Legolas turned his head to see his father's advisor, Gelir, looking him up and down as if making an appraisal of the prince.

"Matters of security that are of a need-to-know nature," Legolas replied evenly, returning his gaze to over the head of his horse.

"I think, my prince, that as we are in just as much danger as you, we are entitled to know," Gelir replied haughtily.

"I think, sir, that as your prince and one of the captains of Mirkwood's armies, you should not question what I say."

The advisor made a sort-of frustrated twittering noise and turned to his fellow advisor, Saelon and made some remark that Legolas did not give any heed. The prince shook his head. It had been quite obvious since the start of this journey that Gelir thought himself in charge of the group, even though the Elvenking, Thranduil, had explained very clearly that Legolas was to be lead ambassador to Imladris and should be given full deference.

This journey promised to be long, Legolas thought to himself, given the circumstances.

Near nightfall, the emissary reached the borders of Mirkwood and decided to camp near the trees. After their camp was established, Legolas and two of the guards decided to backtrack into the forest to find what was on their tail.

"Why must you leave also, Prince?" Gelir questioned when he discovered Legolas' plans to accompany the guards. "Is this duty not best suited for soldiers?"

"Aye, it is. Pity that I am a soldier, is it not?" Legolas asked clapping his hand on the elder elf's back and offering him a wry smile. Gelir, not amused by the prince's patronizing behavior, pointed his nose in the air once more and protested. This time, Saelon quieted him.

"Be still, Gelir," the second ambassador said. "Prince Legolas may not be as long as you are in years and smartness, but he has wisdom. The Elvenking did not send us with him to elfling-sit. He is the leader of this party and we shall let him be on his way. Come, do not sulk!" Saelon laughed as his fellow diplomat frowned.

"Go, Prince Legolas. We shall await you here," Saelon added, nodding. Legolas smiled back at his father's advisor.

"Thank you," he said before walking off with Eregdos and Maethoron.

The elves entered the forest and then split up, walking forward with about two yards between them. Legolas made a hand signal to the other two, indicating which attack pattern he intended on using. It was an old hunting technique his brothers taught him long ago. Eregdos and Maethoron signaled that they understood and went off to get into position around the clearing where their stalker seemed to have stopped. Whatever or whomever was there barely making noise as it moved, but all three hunters could still sense it acutely. They waited.

As Legolas crouched in the brush just past the clearing, he took an arrow out of his quiver and tapped the fletched end against a leaf on the ground three times to signal his readiness. The noise would have been totally inaudible to any but an elf and only recognizable by those familiar with the calls of the Mirkwood Armies.

Legolas listened: three more taps, a ten-second pause; three more taps, and after another ten-second pause, all three elves sprang upon the person in the glade, who cried out in surprise and reached for a bow and quiver of arrows lying on the ground. Legolas reacted swiftly and in one easy motion, he had his arms around their stalker's arms and stomach, holding the person completely against himself.

Immediately he knew who he held. The scent of wildflowers gave her away.

"Anariel?!" Legolas almost shouted.

"Unhand me!" The elleth shouted back as she thrashed about in Legolas' arms. Completely shocked, Legolas released his prisoner. Anariel whirled around in a flurry of her green traveling dress and grey cloak to give Legolas the most fearsome glare he'd ever seen on her face before. For a while, the prince looked upon Anariel, and then looked from Eregdos to Maethoron and back to Anariel. All four of them felt as though they were the most confused elves in all of Arda.

After he had recovered his wits, worry and love disguised as anger settled upon Legolas. He had specifically ordered Anariel to stay in the Elvenking's halls, even though she had volunteered to go with him.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"Certainly not planning a surprise attack on you, if that is what you think!" Anariel almost shouted back as she pushed some stray hairs out of her face. She appeared to be just as angry with Legolas as he was with her.

The prince heaved a sigh and ran his hand over his face and let it settle over his mouth. He remained silent and looked at the ground as he tried to sort out his thoughts.

"My lady, why have you followed us?" Maethoron asked, saving Legolas the trouble. The elleth turned and looked Maethoron over once or twice before replying.

"The answer to your question, I am afraid, is a matter that must be between the prince and me," Anariel replied. She seemed to stand up straighter as she spoke, as if outward confidence would be enough to stop any other questions they might have.

Eregdos was about to protest this, but Legolas waved a hand to stop him. He looked up at Anariel steadily, trying to determine what next to say. Anariel did not speak, only stared at him in return.

Legolas knew he could not reveal that she had disobeyed direct orders from him within earshot of any other elf. The penalty for disobedience in the Woodland Realm was exile, and authority was not given to Legolas to pardon her. The knowing expression on Anariel's face suddenly caused Legolas to realize that she also knew this, and his anger festered. Even if he did reveal her, she would still have to accompany him, at least out of Mirkwood. She had taken a great risk.

"You must return to my father's halls, it is too dangerous here," Legolas finally said, knowing it would not work. Anariel almost laughed as she raised an eyebrow at his solution.

"Truly? You would send me back with no escort? I am certain you can spare none of your party to accompany me back."

Legolas set his jaw and stared at her.

"The lady is right," the prince said with a defeated sigh, "she must accompany us."

"I agree, your highness," Eregdos said. "We cannot delay long, however, darkness falls. We must return to camp."

Legolas nodded and leaned over to the ground, picking up her saddlebag, which was at his feet. He handed it to Anariel with a hard stare.

"Do not think that because I have not revealed you means I am glad to see you," He said in a low voice. His words were harsher than the prince had meant, and he regretted them almost instantly, especially when he saw fury like fire burn at him through Anariel's eyes.

"I would not jump to such conclusions, my prince," she said, grabbing her saddlebag from him. She turned on her heel at once to go to her horse and did not look at Legolas again.

When the four returned to the camp with an extra elf, Gelir was in an uproar. Saelon tried to assuage his questions, but the elder elf would have none of it.

"An elleth?" He asked, surveying Anariel, "What is she doing here?"

All were silent. Anariel stared at the ground, her brow furrowed in anger, while Eregdos and Maethoron could only look at Legolas. They had served with the prince in battle before and were loyal to him; they would follow his lead, provided, of course, that he did lead. Legolas struggled with his mind for a moment before answering, not sure what to say. When he finally thought of something, his words came out all a-tumble.

"My father sent her at Lady Nestadriel's request. This elleth is a healer, and she is to accompany us to Imladris to receive instruction from Lord Elrond," he explained quickly.

Gelir looked skeptical. "Has he sent instructions to this effect?" He asked, looking at the newcomer.

"No written instructions, my lord," Anariel replied quietly, still looking at the ground.

"Then how are we to trust that this is so?" Gelir interrogated, coming closer to Anariel. Before the advisor could come farther, Legolas stepped between them.

"The Lady Anariel is most trusted of the Elvenking's son. Her words are as good as my father's," he said with authority.

Gelir seemed to engage Legolas in a staring contest that lasted for several long moments. Finally, the elder elf made a throaty noise and walked away, frustrated. Legolas rolled his eyes, growing weary of this constant battle of the wills with his father's advisor.

"Thank you, Legolas." Anariel murmured behind him. The prince turned to address her, but the elleth had already turned from him and was walking away. Legolas watched her walk her horse to where the others had made camp and begin to settle. The prince let a breath out of his nose and then turned to address Eregdos and Maethoron to establish the watch schedule for the night.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Anariel rested comfortably on the grass. The elleth had made herself a small place to sleep right under a tall tree at the edge of the forest, near enough to the others that she was within eyeshot but far enough that she had some privacy. Her horse stood by her, snoozing. She knew not how long she had slept when a noise awakened her.

The elleth sat up facing west. Against the silhouette of the Misty Mountains she could see Legolas standing some feet away, leaning on his bow and facing away from her.

A flash of lightning shot across the sky. A handful of seconds later, a low, rolling thunder followed on a puff of breeze.

"You should rest,"

Legolas' quite voice came, taking Anariel by surprise. She looked at him standing there, unmoving as a rock before the flood. Only his strong, broad shoulders moved as he breathed steadily. The lightning flashed again, illuminating everything from his bright hair to his green and brown traveling clothes. Anariel found herself strangely unable to reply as she admired him from that distance. She blushed.

At length, Legolas turned his head to the side and looked at her. He had taken the later watch for the night and had been studying the storm as it rolled over the mountains for some time when he'd sensed Anariel's wakefulness.

Disregarding Legolas' advice, Anariel stood. Legolas watched, seemingly unmoved, as she walked towards him. He didn't think he could ever recall a time when he had seen Anariel's hair down before. It was a becoming look for her, he thought. The prince cleared his throat involuntarily.

"The storm woke me," Anariel explained as she arrived at his side. She looked into his eyes, but he turned his face westward once more.

"I do not think it will pass this way. The wind is out of the south," Legolas said of the weather. Anariel nodded.

"Have you ever seen a storm roll in as this?" Anariel asked, admiring the dramatic clouds that towered in the distance, glowing with lightning.

"Nay. The trees of Mirkwood hide such things," he answered simply and quietly. Anariel could not decide if he was talking about so benign a subject as the weather because he was angry or because he regretted his earlier words to her. Her experience with Legolas taught her that either was possible. A soft breeze fluttered past them and the elleth sighed.

"Are you angry with me?" She finally asked, looking at Legolas.

The prince sighed and lowered his head, looking at his boots. He knew the answer was never going to be "yes," much though he wanted it to be. Truthfully, any anger he'd felt was only fueled by his worry over the risks Anariel had taken and, ultimately, his love for her. He'd been thinking on it for some time as he watched the evening stars being veiled by the storm, though, and Legolas could not deny that he found her actions flattering in a strange way. Endearing, even.

He looked at Anariel and smiled wryly at her.

"Yes," he finally answered. She only stared at him in confusion. Legolas did not return her gaze, but looked back at the storm. Still smiling, he continued; "and no," he admitted, chuckling a little.

"Legolas," Anariel said his name as a warning and frowned.

"Should I not be angry? You disobeyed a direct order, knowing full well that to reveal yourself would mean exile," Legolas said, turning to face her again, his smile gone.

"And should I not be angry with you?" Anariel replied, "We have been friends all this time and yet you play with my feelings?"

"You know my desire for you to remain behind was not born of any desire to play with your feelings," Legolas said.

Anariel made a frustrated sort of growl. "Always hiding," she muttered.

"From what do you think I hide?" The prince asked, his tone somewhere between incredulous and amused at the prospect.

"Me," Anariel responded without pause. She blinked, surprised at her own answer. The elleth shifted her footing and broke eye contact for a moment. She sighed.

Legolas stared at her. Was she nervous? And just what was she trying to express, he wondered. His mind traveled over all the time they'd spent together and all they'd been through thus far. Never had he dreamed that she could possibly return the deep feelings he harbored for her, but as he watched this dearest friend stand next to him in such agitation, he began to hope. His spirit reached out to hers and she seemed to bat him away in a blur of confused thoughts.

A few moments more passed. Legolas made a decision.

"Anariel," he called her name softly as he reached out and ran his fingers over the hand at her side. The elleth inhaled sharply and looked at him again. She did not pull away, so Legolas fully captured her hand in his. Anariel smiled and looked down at their joined hands as she intertwined their fingers.

Tentatively, Legolas stepped nearer to her. "You should know," he said in a voice that was low and almost inaudible, "that although I would have had you stayed in the safety of my father's halls," he met her eyes, "nothing gives me more joy than having you near."

"I could not stay, Legolas," Anariel replied softly as she held his gaze. Her face was almost sad as she spoke, "truly, I would have faced much worse than exile to be with you."

Legolas, in an unusual streak of reckless abandon, allowed his bow to drop to the ground as he turned to fully face her. He could not stop himself, even if he had been thinking clearly. The distance between the two elves closed and he reached up with his unoccupied hand and caressed the side of Anariel's face lightly with his fingertips. Her eyes fluttered closed, and he could feel her breath on his face as their foreheads met.

Time seemed suspended as their noses brushed and they breathed together. He could sense Anariel let down her defenses and he released his spirit to go where it so longed. They stood for some time, communing in a way more intimate than ever before. Somewhere in the far reaches of his mind, Legolas remarked upon how completely natural it seemed to be with Anariel so near and how totally grounded he felt when their spirits were together – as if he was home after a long journey.

Finally, Legolas leaned down and claimed Anariel's lips with his. And he found, much to his never-ending joy, that Anariel had been waiting all that time to kiss him back.

NOTES

"Nâ I Onnad" is Sindarin for "it is the beginning."