(A year later)
It was already midday when I remembered my main goal: talk to Thranduil, so I approached him in the library. I noticed he was spending more and more time in there, reading the same book over and over. I don't want to say I'm worried about him, but he has been acting strange lately. He has been kinder towards me, but I actually missed his cold personality. I had become so used to arguing and seeing his cold stare that it seemed normal. I just had to get used to the way he was.
Once I saw him I began to feel nervous. It seemed like an adventure just to talk to him.
"May I ask you something?" I asked, sitting next to him.
He looked at me and put his hands on mine. He nodded his head, but I slid my hand out from under his. I wanted to get straight to the point.
"I've been here for a year already. There is no purpose for me to stay. Let me go."
He looked up surprised not only at my gesture but mostly at the question. I guessed he had become so used to having me around it would be very different and I felt the same. Mirkwood was becoming my new home and I knew it would not be wise. If I continued on the way things were not only would I forget my family but I would fall in love with him, and I had to stop myself. My feelings for him have grown everyday, at times becoming so uncontrollable. I wanted to stay, I really did. My wanting to leave was an attempt for me to runaway. I once wanted to find love, find a man to die for, but he was not the man I dreamed. He was a king, an elf and not the man for me.
"Why is it that you bring it up now? It has been sometime since you have asked me," was his response.
He seemed to not take my words seriously and just started reading again. I shut the book on him and stared him in the eyes. My heart felt like it was going to burst. I had to act like it was not hard for me when it was the complete opposite.
"I have allowed you to keep me here for a year. You have no more power over me. I'm going to leave," I said trying to sound as firm as possible.
He seemed to be trying to organize all his thoughts as feelings. I figured it would be easy for him. He did not love me. I only served as entertainment for him. He was a king; he had many women in his life, one less would not matter.
"Fine. Leave and see how far your legs will carry you. I will wait here for you to fall, and when you come back asking for my help I will not offer any. I gave you a chance, but I see you have made your decision," he said raising his voice and putting his face closer to mine.
"A chance for what? I am not whoever you think I am," I said getting just as in his face.
"I know who you are," he said.
"No. You don't, goodbye," I said lifting myself up from the floor and heading for the door.
"I know you more than you know yourself," were his last words.
As I slammed the door behind me I walked slowly back to my room in tears. It pained me deeply to leave. Leaving Legolas, Amareth and Thranduil was not going to be easy. I went into my room and gathered all my things. It seemed word traveled fast and as I approached the gate Legolas was standing right in front of it.
"So it is true, you are leaving," Legolas said with sadness in his eyes.
"Yes. I do not belong here," I said.
"No matter what or who you are, you have always belonged," he said placing his hand on my shoulder.
I turned and kissed him on the cheek.
"Tenna' ento lye omenta," I said leaving and hearing the gates close behind me.
I became shut out and open to the world again, but Mirkwood had become my world. Everything seemed strange even the trees which I used to know so well. I was a stranger in my own world, and I was alone. My friends were behind me and my past was in front of me, but it would no be the same. I knew my mother and brothers would be different but was there a home still waiting for me or would I be shut out from it too?
I walked through the forest with a bow Legolas gave me for my birthday. For my birthday I asked one thing of Legolas, teach me a few elvish phrases and how to shoot a bow and arrow. He was so hesitant that it was funny. We had become all the more closer as he dealt with my terrible stance and aiming skills. Eventually I became pretty decent with a bow, no, not as good as Legolas, but good enough to defend myself. I was unsure in which direction home was so I just went with my gut feeling and hoped my ring would glow as it did once before.
Night fell upon me faster than I realized. I climbed up a tree and tried to get comfortable, but there was no way to get comfortable in a tree at all. My mind seemed to go blank but my heart felt stung. I had just runaway from my emotions. I was a coward. I left everything I gained for something I am not sure is still there for me. Going to sleep I was still a little uneasy. The past year has been filled with strange dreams that all seemed to be linked to Thranduil.
It seemed more real every night. The air was clean and the touch of grass tickled my bare feet. I sat there waiting for him. I waited and waited, beginning to feel like he would never come. Then I saw him. He wore a smile brighter than the sun that was shining. I stood up and ran towards him, longing to hold him in my arms. He embraced me and I could feel all the passion we had been holding back, starting to pour out. He took his hand and moved loose strands of hair behind my ear, but when he touched my ear I could feel it was pointed.
I awoke from the dream thinking that was the first time I ever dreamed I was an elf. The sky was still dark but I set out on my quest. I walked into an open field and noticed the grass blowing in the wind. The sun was rising and as it reflected over the field, it hit me. The field was the same one I had just dreamed of. It was a strange coincidence but I took it as a sign that I was heading in the right direction. Trudging through the cold winds and evil of nature I finally noticed a familiar set of trees. My journey had been long but I was lucky to encounter no threat. I was at the forest where he found me, the forest just by my house. I began running towards home and I noticed everything was the same. My mother was outside hanging clothes dry and I called out to her. She looked out at me but assumed she was dreaming. I ran to her, calling her name as tears fell. My brothers, all looking a little bit older came out of the house and joined my mother as they ran towards me. My brothers looked so mature although they only aged a year and the oldest was now 12.
"Nellie? Where have you been?" Mark asked me.
"Searching for you," I said.
I hugged them all tightly and embraced my mother the tightest. It felt so warm and comforting to be in her arms again. It was nice to be back home, but I had also lost one.
***(A few weeks later)
Trying to adapt was strange. I had become so used to life as an elf I forgot what it was to be human. My brothers seemed a little distant from me and it pained me to have missed many memories with them. As I helped my mother with the dishes I could hear a loud cry from outside. I did not tell my mother about Thranduil or anything; I did not want to worry her. As far as she knows I got lost in the woods and somehow survived. My story was vague and didn't make sense but she believed it and didn't care as long as I was back home.
We both ran outside to see the village in complete chaos. The scream sounded like mark and I saw him crying. He stood in front of a fallen building trying to move the rubble. There were flames that ate at the wooden huts we lived in. Many people were running, everything was still confusing to me. When I ran to Mark and he told me what happened I burst into tears. Scratching my bare hands on wood and pottery I dug through the ruins. Then I noticed an arm. After removing all the wood I could see my younger brothers small face, his eyes were closed and there was a peacefulness to his face. I put my arms around Mark while my mother and other brother came running to us. My brother was dead and I could not protect him. He was crushed. Death took him too soon. I was filled with anger as I turned and ran into the main turmoil of the village. I noticed orcs pillaging through and killing many of our neighbors. I pulled out my bow and began shooting orc after orc. They had killed my brother, destroyed my family, my village and I would die trying to protect what was left of it. My move did not seem smart but my emotions were controlling me.
There was no escaping it. My arrows were killing orc after orc but soon I began missing and a pack of orcs was heading towards me and my family. I tried to diverge them away from the house but they did not fall for it, half following me and half going towards what was left of my family. Tears began to blurry my vision and my arrows continued to miss. My arm began to get sore and I could feel a pain strike my chest. I looked down to see an arrow protruding out. I continued to stand but eventually fell to my knees. I looked up at the orc who shot the arrow and he looked pleased that he had won.
If I had died trying I would be okay with that, but dying without telling Thranduil how I really felt was the worst of all. I tried to forget and I tried to run but now I was regretting it. This was the time I wanted to see him most, but I was not going to. I noticed just as the orc was about to finish me off an arrow flew out and shot it in the eye. Soon numerous arrows were flying around and I could feel pleased to know help had come for my family. My mother and brothers ran towards me, but another figure was hovering over me.
"My King! There is a someone still alive!" The elf called out.
"Leave it. Their time has come," answered a familiar voice.
The elf began to walk away and I turned my head to see a group of elves including Legolas and Thranduil turned away from me, walking back into the forest.
"Namaarie," I whispered.
My body turned cold and the pain of the arrow became too much. I placed my hand on my chest and could feel my warm blood trickling down from my wound. Legolas twitched and stopped walking.
"Ada, did you hear that?" he asked his father.
"Hear what?" Thranduil answered.
Legolas turned around and sprinted back towards me. He noticed me on the floor and I could see water forming in his eyes but he would not allow them to fall.
"It's Mireth!" Legolas yelled to Thranduil.
Thranduil stood still and did not answer.
My vision was fading but I was able to catch a glimpse of him turning around and looking at me.
Whew well that took a lot out of me but here are the translations for you:) THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY! Just making sure you guys know that so I'll try and put the next chapter up asap! Make sure to keep reviewing! I love hearing what you guys think!:)
Tenna' ento lye omenta: Until we meet again
Namaarie: Farewell
