CHAPTER EIGHT

Once again time passed and it was nightfall. The fellowship were merrily sitting in a circle with Haldir and a few other elves as they told stories, new and old. The fellowship had already taken part in telling wonderful tales, some funny, some serious and some… well, I dare not say, but now it was Haldir's turn.

"Tonight I shall speak of the tale of Gil-galad for I heard a sorrowful soul singing his song early this morning though I do not know who it was…" Haldir softly started making Legolas lean forward in interest for he knew who had sung the song and Corlia, unknown to anyone, flinched at the name as she took a hold of Legolas's hand, the warmth settling her down as Legolas gazed at her in surprise. Haldir softly spoke of his past and soon came to the ending of his tale.

"..he then formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men with Elendil, High King of the Dúnedain-in-Exile, the armies of Elves and Men victorious after the Battle of Dagorlad laid siege to Sauron in Mordor…" he spoke but Corlia, only seen by Legolas and Aragorn, let go of Legolas's hand and left the circle with tears in her eyes. Legolas was unsure if he should follow her or not but Haldir's next words caught his attention.

"…at the end of the siege both Gil-galad and Tyrlylth aided in the overthrow of Sauron's physical body yet Gil-galad perished in the assault while Tyrlylth was badly injured. It is rumoured that Gil-galad was slew by the heat of Sauron's own hands and that he also tried to slew Tyrlylth in the same manner" Haldir finished his tale, earning a clap off everyone except Legolas who had put the pieces together. He quickly stood, saying a quick farewell before leaving, his thoughts racing.

Corlia wasn't in love with just anybody, Legolas thought, she was in love with Gil-galad, a High King that went down in legends. Legolas thought back to the burnt flag that Corlia always carried and, at that moment, Legolas remembered seeing it many years ago when he saw Gil-galad ride into battle with his people; he also remembered Corlia riding at his side, her figure strong but her eyes forever troubled as she kept an eye on Gil-galad. Legolas felt numb, extremely numb, for he knew that he could not compete with the likes of Gil-galad for Corlia's love. Corlia was in too much pain with her past, Legolas thought, and she wouldn't want to be with Legolas. Legolas was torn; he wanted to help Corlia and save her from the pain but he didn't want her to believe that he was trying to take Gil-galad's place even though it was told that Gil-galad never had a lover…

"Prince Legolas, come with a walk with me" a humble voice spoke startling poor Legolas out of his thoughts. He turned to view the owner of the voice, quickly bowing for it was Lord Celeborn. Legolas walked with Celeborn for a long, long talk…

At the time of Legolas joining Celeborn in a stroll Corlia was silently sitting in camp, her hands clenching and unclenching as she tried controlling her mixed emotions.

"Great sorrow is upon your heart" a smooth but strong voice spoke and Corlia snapped her eyes to Galadriel, glaring at her.

"Obviously" she sneered but Galadriel paid her no heed as she watched her stand. Corlia was unsure what the Lady was up to, and truth be told, she didn't want to know what she was up to.

"Do you need something?" Corlia hastily asked; she was in no mood to play with the Lady and her mind games but she was curious as to why she was trying to speak with her, after trying to speak to her after Gil-galad's death Galadriel had avoided Corlia ever since.

"I have heard that your sword has broken and I am here to gift you with a new weapon for you cannot leave and continue your path with the fellowship empty handed" Galadriel spoke before walking forward showing Aiglos, Gil-galad's spear, to Corlia but she quickly stepped back, her pain covered with newly found hatred towards her. The words that were engraved into the spear running through her mind:

'Gil-galad ech vae vaegannen matha, (Gil-galad wields a well-made spear,)

Aith heleg nín i orch gostatha; (The Orc will fear my point of ice;)

Nin cíniel na nguruthos (When he sees me, in fear of death)

Hon ess nín istatha: (he will know my name:)

Aiglos.

"You cannot gift me that" she heftily told Galadriel with a glare. Galadriel pretended that she didn't understand why Corlia wouldn't accept such a gift; it was one of the greatest spears ever made and also it was Gil-galad's... she accepted Tyarel so why not accept Aiglos?

"You don't understand, do you?" Corlia sneered, breaking Galadriel's thoughts.

"That weapon is Gil-galad's, not mine, and it shall never be mine. You cannot give me gifts to try and repair the broken friendship between us. You had no right to council Gil-galad to save my life after allowing him to look into your mirror! He should have decided his fate himself! I should have perished, not him!" Corlia snapped in anger and Galadriel realised her 'mistake' immediately but before she could utter a sound Corlia stormed off, heading in any direction that came to mind. How dare Galadriel try and reform a friendship between herself and her! It was her fault that Gil-galad was killed, and she knew it only too well. Galadriel quietly stood in the camp, looking in the direction where Corlia had stormed off. Galadriel secretly knew that Corlia would be angered by the spear and that, by doing what she did, would help Corlia lose the pain she felt towards the death of Gil-galad. With a timid smile the Lady turned, knowing that one day Corlia would forgive her.

Corlia's footsteps were hurried and sloppy, the watching elves hearing her easily as they watched her storm pass in the trees, the argument between Galadriel and her already spreading around the forest like wildfire. Corlia didn't care though, she was extremely angry. She was angry at Galadriel, she was angry at the past and she was also angry at herself. Her breaths were hurried as she paused in her step, not knowing where she stood, but she cared little for no eyes watched her and where she stood the area was peaceful, not quiet, but peaceful. The large over-towering trees lightly hummed to one another as they sang sacred songs. At their song Corlia sat at a tree trunk, deeply breathing in and out, closing her eyes tightly shut, calming her emotions and emptying her mind. She could feel it, her heart was tearing apart, breaking… was the grief finally catching up to her? Were her days now limited if she did not get her emotions under control?

"Oh Gil-galad, my lost friend, what am I to do?" Corlia whispered and, after speaking, the humming of the trees grew louder, making her snap her eyes back open, her jaw falling slack as she gazed upon a see-through figure that smiled down at her in all his glory, before her floated Gil-galad. Corlia rubbed her eyes with her hands, not believing that his form floated in front of her but there he stayed in his peaceful form; tight blue clothing he wore, the same he wore when she last saw him before his death. His dark coloured hair gracefully fell over his shoulders, the way it always had, while his shining grey eyes gazed down at her as he held his hand out for her. She accepted it, amazed that her hand did not go through his body as he pulled her up to her feet, standing her before himself.

"Why do I see you?" Corlia whispered, her voice barely auditable, but Gil-galad heard her perfectly.

"I am afraid that you will perish with all this heartache" Gil-galad told her in a sad tone of voice, "I do not wish that to happen to you."

"Why did you not come after the battle?" Corlia asked in confusion but Gil-galad gave her a loving smile as he squeezed the hand he still held.

"I could not, my special one, for it was too soon and you needed to accept that I had gone forever. Many years I have watched over you but still the Valar did not allow me to speak with you and it pained me so, they told me I had to wait and today was the day I was allowed to lay my eyes upon you once more before I can rest peacefully until we meet again in the afterlife" Gil-galad told her, his grey eyes sparkling at the thought of having Corlia next to his side once again.

"But my special one, you cannot live your life like this. Many years you have hidden up in the north, slaying orcs and barely escaping death. You hide your emotions and close your heart off; you act your life as if you are someone else. Where is the Corlia I once spent my happiest days with?" Gil-galad sadly spoke.

"She died the day your soul left my side" Corlia sadly spoke but Gil-galad sent her another loving smile, lifting his free hand to place it on her cheek, rubbing it softly.

"My special one, you are forever in my heart… but in yours, there is still room to love another who will love you more than I ever could. We were not fated to be with one another for our paths were forced upon war where we had little time for ourselves" Gil-galad told her making her part her lips but Gil-galad silence her with a frown.

"It kills me to see you this way and I know it also pains you. A bond has been built between you and another and you know that you cannot refuse it for it will lead to both of your deaths. Let your heart open up so it may be healed, let him take you into his arms and cherish you forever. When you do come to the afterlife that is when you can stand at my side, not as a lover but as a close friend… My time is up, special one, will you consider my words?" Gil-galad said, looking deep into her tearful eyes before standing a stride back, his hand falling from her cheek but his hand never leaving hers. Corlia kept silent for a minute; she knew that she could never be with Gil-galad but the bond they shared was one that she would never, ever have with another. He loved her and she loved him but she was destined to go with someone else… and Gil-galad, the fairest of them all, accepted her fate and wanted her to take it to make sure she was happy and free. Corlia felt the tears coming again but deep down, in her heart, something had been taken away leaving her heart light and full of life once more.

"Star of Radiance, thou have taken my pain away and given me words that have given me much thought. For thou… I shall open thee heart and follow thee fate and, when we next meet, we shall proudly stand side by side like we used to years ago when we marched to battle with our heads high and our blades sharp" Corlia managed to say to him, a burning light being seen deep within her eyes. Gil-galad gave her a true smile which Corlia did in return, giving him a squeeze with her hand one, final time. Slowly they parted their hands.

"I Melain berio le (May Valar keep you)" Corlia said to him, her smile faltering slightly.

"Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dín síla erin rád o chuil lín (May Elbereth protect you, may her stars shine on the path of your life)" Gil-galad told her before he faded away, never to be seen again. The humming trees let out one last note before they fell into silence. Corlia, feeling weight lessen from her heart, weakly smiled but she deeply frowned as the weight came back but instead of it being in her heart it was at her left side. She glanced down, amazed as she pulled out Tyarel that was glimmering in the light, as good as new. A new sentence was engraved onto the glimmering sword:

'Protector of the Mistress'

After reading those words a small smile played on Corlia's lips. She finally felt free and a new person but something felt different, a new longing was set in her heart. Who was she longing for?

Authors note: After finishing this chapter I was wondering if I should do a short one-shot based on Corlia and Gil-galad… If anyone is interested with me doing this then let me know and I'll also be thankful for any ideas to what should happen in it. (: