Note: The usual - don't own any characters but Merenwen. Movie verses in this chapter.
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Legolas awoke the next morning before the sunrise broke through the clouds. That day he would set out with the Fellowship to take the Ringbearer to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring.
His eyes drifted to Merenwen, who was curled up against him. One hand rested by her face, while the other limply rested against his chest. Her raven hair mingled with his contrasting golden hair, and he could feel her shallow breaths on his bare skin.
Knowing he had to leave her, he smoothed her hair away from her face and looked at it in the pale light. She was completely content. He did not want to disturb the beauty that fell upon her. He kissed her forehead and then her bare shoulder before moving to the side of the bed and starting to dress.
Merenwen woke, as if from a dream. Immediately, she did not feel the closeness of her love when he moved away from her. Legolas was at the edge of the bed getting dressed. She put a hand on his back while he was retrieving his tunic. He turned, shirt in hand, and smiled at her. She moved over to him and touched his brow lightly.
"Must you leave?"
"I must."
She again reached out to him, finding his hand and pulling him toward her. Lying back next to him, she caressed his bare skin, wanting to remember the feel of him when they were again apart.
"Stay a while longer. It is difficult for me to let you go, and I want to delay the moment as long as I can."
"I would love to stay with you forever, holding you, and feeling your skin against mine. But if I do not go, I will not be able to because Sauron will not rest until he conquers Middle Earth."
She leaned over him. "But why must it be so difficult to let you go?" She kissed him, a way in the back of her mind to convince him to stay with her.
Legolas knew what she was trying to do. And as much as he wanted to lavish attention on her again, he knew his duty. He pulled her hair back behind her shoulders and looked up into her light eyes. Wisps of hair fell before her face, and he had to use all his will power not to reach up and tuck them behind her ears. The longer he stayed, the harder it would be to go.
"Because you know how much I love you." He touched her cheek and moved away from her. Getting up, he pulled on his tunic.
Merenwen sat up and watched him dress, feeling a cold chill go through her, despite the fact she did not feel any cold. Fear set in the back of her mind, but she tried to ignore it.
When he was completely dressed, he turned back to her. She sat with the covers pooled around her waist and the straps of her gown hanging off her shoulders. He sat next to her on the edge of the bed and found her hand.
"Will you see me off?"
"I will. It would hurt to see you leave, but I would rather grab hold of every moment I could be with you."
Legolas kissed her hand and then her lips before embracing her.
"Melon le. I love you, Legolas," she said, fighting the urge not to cry.
"Melon le, Merenwen. Nathon uireb. I will forever." He touched her face one last time to remember her beauty, and left, trying not to look back at her for fear one might cry. He went to his room to gather his bow and quiver, then went to join the gathering Fellowship.
When he left, Merenwen looked at the chair by the wall. Legolas' cloak, the one he had worn into Imladris, was lying across the arms. She got up and retrieved it, holding the cloak to her heart. She watched him join the members of the Fellowship from her window before turning to get dressed to see her love off on his journey.
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Legolas stood with the other eight members of the Fellowship before Lord Elrond at the gate of Rivendell. He warned them of where they were going.
"May the blessings of elves, men, and free folk go with you," Elrond bade them.
"The Fellowship awaits the Ringbearer," Gandalf said.
Frodo turned and started to walk out the gate. Gandalf put a hand on the hobbit's shoulder and followed him closely. Boromir, Merry, and Pippin followed next. Then came Legolas. He looked to his right and found Merenwen standing on a porch with two other elves. They looked at each other, Merenwen and Legolas, and knew easily what the other was thinking. She wished him luck, and he promised to be with her in the end. The elf reluctantly tore his gaze away and followed the hobbits in front of him. Sam came next with Bill the Pony. Aragorn was last, after looking long at Arwen.
Merenwen walked over to Arwen and took her arm as they watched the party leave the valley Rivendell was built in.
"How will you fare?"
Arwen looked at the ground. "Fine. I believe so." She looked at Merenwen. "You?"
"Me? You know how hard it is to lose your only love. I seem to never see him longer than I would like," she sighed, looking back at her friend.
"Please, do not cry. We do no think we could handle both of you crying at once."
Merenwen turned to find the twin sons of Elrond – Elladan and Elrohir – standing in front of them with serious looks.
"We were not crying," she denied.
"Of course," Elrohir said.
"They shall be fine," Elladan added.
"I'll just miss him," Arwen sighed.
Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other sadly. While their father was harsh, they were more understanding of Arwen's choice. In addition to their sister, they feared for Merenwen as well. She was just as much their sister as Arwen was.
"Well, I for one am glad to be rid of them."
"Mer!" Arwen cried.
"What? I only jest!"
"Do not worry, Arwen. They shall be fine. Unless someone gets injured –"
"– Or falls off a cliff –"
"– Or gets stuck in a cave in –"
"– Or any other mayhem occurs."
"All right! Thank you, Elladan and Elrohir. You do not help at all," Merenwen said, leading Arwen away from her brothers. "They are only trying to scare us, Arwen."
"They can take care of themselves," Arwen answered, trying to convince herself.
"Yes."
"Even if I could follow, my father nor Aragorn would allow it."
"Follow, did you say?" Merenwen turned and looked at her.
"Yes. Why?" she asked cautiously.
"That is not a bad idea." Merenwen hurried up the steps to her room with Arwen in pursuit. Once she was there, she pulled out her bow, quiver, a gracefully curved elven sword, and a travel pack. She set them on her bed before retrieving her travel clothes and going behind a screen to change.
"What are you meaning to do?" Arwen asked, closing the door behind her. Then she noticed the weapons on the bed. "You cannot be doing what I think you are. Are you?"
"And what do you think I am doing?"
"You are going to follow them."
"Then I am going to do what you think I will."
"You cannot."
"Why?"
"It is not wise."
"So?"
"They will be plenty angry when they find out you are following."
"They will not know I am following."
"Legolas will know."
"I am not concerned with if he knows," she answered, stepping from behind the screen. She was dressed in Silvan greens and browns with a lone braid running down her back. Then she went over to her bed to gather her weapons.
"But he shall be very angry."
"Maybe so. But I will not let the prince of Mirkwood govern my actions. And if he cannot see that I am doing this for my own peace of mind, then I will force him to understand."
Arwen looked at her with admiration and sternness. "I admire your dedication, Mer. A part of me wishes I were going with you."
"You cannot. It would seem odd for Elrond's daughter to be missing. I have no place to require my service."
When she had fully prepared herself for what she would need, Merenwen picked up Legolas' cloak. She held it up and looked at it, noting it still smelled of him. She could not bear to leave a piece of him behind in Rivendell. She folded the cloak and placed it carefully inside her pack.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I must. I cannot sit here idle and wait for him."
"Then do what you must, for I know I cannot persuade you at all."
"Thank you. And I will watch over Aragorn for you, though I do not see him not returning to you. He has far too great a fate to fulfill."
"I fear for him, like you fear for Legolas, but you do not have to watch him for me. I trust that he will succeed, no matter what anyone says."
"All right." She bowed to Arwen. "I am off."
Arwen embraced her. "Be cautious. And please do not hesitate to stop at Lórien or Mrikwood if the need arises."
"Aren't I always careful?" Merenwen replied, grinning before leaving the room.
"Good luck," Arwen called after her. "You'll need it, mellon nín, my friend."
