Chapter IV
He Returns
Where Legolas found himself next he didn't expect. He gazed out over Pelennor Fields on the highest level of the city. He didn't remember how he got there but he didn't care. What mattered was the information he received. She was elven, but of highly diluted blood. It was worst than loving a human. His father would never allow it. Not that it mattered. She had ended it.
Legolas looked at the door and didn't know what to do. Suddenly the door opened and her handmaid, Dormé, stood on the other side.
"I'm sorry, my lord, but she has asked not to be disturbed."
"Will you tell her I came?"
"Of course."
Legolas left. He noticed her looking at him from the window upstairs. She moved away from it noticing his stare.
Legolas felt a hand on his shoulder and Aragorn said. "Are you all right, Mellon Nin?"
Legolas didn't know how to answer. He had his heart ripped from his chest and yet he was at peace. It was a strange feeling.
"Have you talked to her?"
He shook his head. "She wouldn't let me in." He looked out over the city, Osgiliath in the distance.
"Did you talk to her or to Dormé?"
"Her handmaid answered the door."
"What did she say?"
"She said that Vàna needed some time. She needed some time to think some things through."
Aragorn walked up beside him and looked out over the city. The sun was just setting behind them. "I see pain in your eyes, Mellon Nin. What do you feel?"
"I don't know, Estel." Legolas answered, tears in his eyes.
"If you truly love her you must fight for her. Just as I fought for Arwen." Silence enveloped them and Legolas did not notice him leave.
It was well after midnight when Legolas stood across from her door. He stood in the shadows watching the light dance on the walls of her room. After a few moments, or a few hours, the light was doused and Legolas turned to leave waiting for the light of day.
Suddenly a high-pitched scream pierced the dark night. Legolas turned back to her home and saw a strange red light from her window. Legolas bolted for the door and started pushing against it with all the strength he could muster. After a few precious moments the door gave way. By then another scream was heard that was reminiscent of the Witch King and the Nazgûl.
Dormé pointed up the stairs and Legolas soon found himself at her door with blades in hand. A strange sight met his eyes.
A strange young man was on the floor groping at his throat and writhing. Vàna lay across the bed all emotion gone from her face, her eyes clouded. Dormé pushed past him and whispered words Legolas didn't understand. Dormé turned from her, snatched a cylindrical object from the floor, and stuck it in her robes. Vàna's blue eyes cleared and she shrank away from the man fear in her eyes.
Legolas moved to comfort her when men swarmed the room taking the unconscious man to the Houses of Healing, but she shrank away from his hand, buried her head in her arms, and sobbed.
Legolas walked into Vàna's apartment looking for her. He hadn't seen her since that strange night when the man appeared. She wasn't home but Dormé said she was in the Houses of Healing, checking in on him. Dormé knew who he was but Legolas knew that she wouldn't tell him.
Legolas moved to go there when he heard trumpets. He looked out over the city and paled at the sight of his father's banner. He ran to Aragorn's court dodging in and out of people mingling in the city unawares at was about to happen. He arrived just as Aragorn was leaving to meet Thranduil. "Mellon Nin, you are just in time…" Legolas stopped and reflected on what was about to happen and a string of elvish curses escaped his lips. Aragorn looked at him in surprise and asked. "What is wrong?"
"The reason my father is here is not. I was about to call upon her."
Understanding, Aragorn said. "Do not worry; I will take care of it. Go to her."
Legolas nodded and ran to the houses as the sound of trumpets came closer.
After inquiring about what room he looked upon her still form. She was fast asleep. She looked like she was at peace but Legolas knew better. Trying hard not to wake her, he went over to the man lying unconscious. His sandy blonde hair fell to his shoulders in curly waves. He wore a dark glove over his right arm and a strange soft hum came from it. Vàna stirred behind him and sat up. "Legolas?"
He sat next to her and observed how she reacted. She looked uncomfortable but didn't move away from him. Against his better judgment he longed to hold her. He was caught off guard however when tears filled her eyes and she fell against him sobbing.
"I almost killed him!" He heard through her tears. "I don't know what happened but I almost killed him!"
Legolas knew there was more to this than she almost killed someone. "Who is he?" He already knew the answer but he wanted her to say it.
She bolted up and stared at him. Legolas could feel the anger returning to his eyes. "Legolas, you must understand that I thought he was dead. My sister sent me a letter telling me he was dead! I didn't know—"
"Who is he?" Legolas insisted.
Before she could answer, the man in question stirred and muttered strange words. Vàna stood and went to him, responding in the same language through her tears. Legolas could fell his anger boiling over and he left before anything could happen.
Aragorn found him in the training grounds taking his frustrations out on the archery target. By the looks of the target he had been there for some time. Legolas let another arrow loose and Aragorn flinched as it hit the target. "Legolas…" Aragorn started. He turned in mid-motion of picking up another arrow. "What happened?" Aragorn heard a few well-chosen curses as Legolas let another arrow loose. Aragorn placed a hand on his anchor arm and pushed it down. "What happened?" he asked softly.
"He came…" Legolas answered and pulled at the bowstring. Aragorn flinched as the arrow made contact.
"Who came?"
"Anakin," Legolas answered before walking up to the target and proceeded to pull out the arrows.
Aragorn watched him silently and cursed himself. He, Aragorn, Elessar, king of Gondor, brought his friend to this pain. He had hoped that he would be as happy with Vàna as he was with Arwen. "Legolas…" he started, trying to get his attention. " … Mellon Nin…" There was still no response. "GREENLEAF!" Legolas finally looked at him. "Why does this upset you so? They are over! He let her go. He allowed her to love again."
Legolas looked curiously at him. "What do you mean?"
"Before she left her sister gave a gift to her. The final gift from Anakin. Inside this gift was a packet of papers, letters of divorcement, allowing her if she lived to move on."
Legolas nodded, he thought he understood. "But now he is back to claim her…"
"No, I do not think so. There is more to this than we know. He paused and clamped his hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Come your father is waiting."
Legolas nodded and shouldered his bow and quiver of arrows.
