Faithful
By: jadoredancingintherain
Disclaimer: I do not own any of J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Nor will I ever claim to.
Author's Note: Really short chapter… sorry! Once again, I bend the truth a little to make my story work…blech. I don't know of Legolas knew about the Ring beforehand, but I needed him to know. Yuck. I am such an awful person, I know, but please, find it in your heart to forgive me TT
Chapter Six: Good News, Bad News
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Mallwen pressed the ice-cold cloth to her forehead as Arphendess gently rubbed her temples. A pounding headache pierced her skull every time light entered her room. Lothwen peered out of the silk curtains. "Lady, they're preparing for Legolas's farewell."
Mallwen stood up, her eyes squinting and her head pounding, and tottered over to the window, against Arphendess's advice to just relax and lay down for the day. Mallwen's stomach turned and her lower lip trembled as he saw his gold-spun hair approaching the entourage waiting for him. Her lips shot downward, but she recovered and looked away. "H-He can't see me like this. I'm a mess," she hiccupped, and sat down in a wicker chair. "Lothwen, please go down a-and tell him goodbye for me." Lothwen immediately stepped away from the window and left the room.
"Lady, I think it would be best if you said goodbye to him." Arphendess sat down next to her mistress and wiped away a tear from her pale cheek. "I'm sure it would do him good as well."
"N-no. That won't be necessary," Mallwen managed a shaky smile. "We said what we needed to say each other last night."
-
Mallwen sat on Legolas's bed, staring all around her. The air was sterile, clean, and almost suffocating. No matter what she did, she could not remember Legolas's scent. She sighed and traced the patterns of the sheets on his clean bed, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She opened the closet and found a small piece of paper on the floor. Nosy as always, Mallwen picked it up. "Mallwen" was written in fine print across the paper. Legolas's handwriting. Mallwen sat down and eagerly opened it.
My dearest Mallwen, she read, her eyes scanning the paper as quickly as possible. As you know, I am leaving to Imaldris to discuss… a certain matter. But I didn't tell you the whole truth. I had known there had been another reason, and finally it was revealed to me. The Lady of the Light spoke to me last night, and she told me that the meeting was also to discuss the fate of the One Ring.
Mallwen closed her eyes and shook her head. She had lived through the horrors of the Ring. It had been destroyed. This was a lie. A tear slid down her cheek as she forced herself to read on.
The Ring has been found, and I know in my heart that Elrond will send a group on the magnanimous quest to destroy it. I myself feel as if I must go on this journey.
"No, no, no…" Mallwen whispered, her heart jumping to her throat.
I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear, but I felt that I needed to get it out. So do not have false hope in your heart that I might see you again. Just keep my memory fond in your heart. May the sun shine down on your path, dear elleth. Legolas, Son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood.
This was a lie, Mallwen told herself firmly as he clutched the parchment to her heart. This…this horrible news, it was all a lie. He wasn't going to do this. The Ring had been destroyed.
But in her heart of hearts, Mallwen finally realized that no matter how much she wanted to believe it, it would never be true.
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Mallwen was taking a walk, alone, when she heard the patter patter of feet behind her.
"My lady." Mallwen's breath caught in her throat that husky voice sounded so similar to Haldir's voice, but it gave her a strange, unfamiliar feeling, not the normal toe-curling, stomach-turning reaction she had when she knew Haldir was near. Mallwen turned, and tried to hide her disappointment when she recognized Orophin, Haldir's brother.
She curtseyed as he bowed his head. After exchanging pleasantries, Mallwen stopped in the path, and Orophin stopped as well, a quizzical look on his face.
"Why have you sought me out? It's not like we are good friends, sire, regrettably. Surely you have news for me?" Mallwen tried to keep the hopeful tone out of her voice, but the smile on Orophin's face told her that he knew everything.
"My lady, I am the bearer of good news today." Orophin smiled, and touched her arm briefly. Her blue eyes flickered up to his dark gray eyes. "My brother Haldir has just sent word. He shall be returning in a fortnight."
Mallwen swallowed hard, unsure of how to take the news. With everything going on around her, she wouldn't have been surprised if Orophin had started to laugh and had told her it was a nasty joke the marchwardens were playing on her. But seeing the genuine shine of joy in Orophin's eyes, Mallwen finally allowed her heart to believe that in just two weeks, she would once again see her Haldir. "Oh, my the stars bless your path, my dear Orophin! What wonderful news you bring me!"
As she quickly hugged Orophin, she had a sudden thought. Maybe now I can forget about the horrible news Legolas has sent me…
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Mallwen smiled at Lothwen, who was quietly folding Mallwen's clothes and tucking them into the wooden drawer. Lothwen smiled back timidly. "My lady seems to be in high spirits today."
Mallwen nodded and perched on her couch. "I just heard that Haldir is to return."
Lothwen's pretty eyes blinked with surprise. "Oh, i-is he now?" She turned a brilliant shade of pink and continued to fold Mallwen's clothes with a sense of haste. Mallwen, enveloped in her own joy, did not notice the sudden change of behavior in her maiden.
Once dismissed, Lothwen hurriedly stepped outside and clutched her hands to her heart. Her Haldir was returning!
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Author's Note: Oooh, Drama llamas!!! What will happen next chapter?? Tune in next time x3 Please review! -jadoredancingintherain
