Thanks to 'evil spapple pie' for editing this! You rock! ^_^
Chapter #9 ~ Partings
Legolas slept for nearly five days straight before his eyes once again opened to behold the world. It was evening when he woke, and the pale moon was letting its silver rays coat the darkness of the room he occupied in a surreal light. The satin sheets felt cool on his skin, and the slight breeze that passed through the open room left Legolas feeling somewhat disoriented. Sitting up slowly, he took account of his surroundings.
The room was spacious and well furnished. Something that immediately caught the young elf's attention was a vanity, which lay against the far wall, with a beautiful carved frame surrounding a mirror just above it. Legolas could see his own reflection staring back at him, his hair a vibrant silver colour under the moon's caress and his skin shining lightly, as was the way of all elves. He looked well tended, and the sleep had taken away the bruising circles from beneath his eyes, which had marred his complexion after Moria. He looked rested, yet some sense of trouble lingered at the back of the elf's mind, and he knew not all was well.
Puzzled, he let his gaze wander the rest of the room while he tried to identify what was different; what was missing. In the end he was rather shocked and disconcerted to find that it was the lulling call of the ring that was absent. He had almost grown accustomed to the small whisper that pressed against his soul and sought to ensnare him, and now that it was gone an almost hollow feeling was left in its wake.
Legolas shook his head, trying to rid himself of such treacherous thoughts.
Pushing back the covers he swung his legs out of the bed, and let them settle on the floor. The stone was smooth, and cold beneath his bare feet, and he shivered in spite of himself. He stood slowly, carefully stretching out long limbs and exercising them lightly from their days of rest. He looked briefly for his clothes, but could not find them, so he made his way to the door dressed as he was.
Stepping out into the hallway showed him nothing, except silence. It seemed that all were abed at this late hour, and he alone wandered awake. He padded softly down the corridor, letting his eyes take in every detail, every carving. There was such beauty to see here.
'Does the Prince of Mirkwood know no modesty, or is it common custom for our kin in the northern realm to wander the hallways half-naked in the night time hours?' a smug, amused sounding voice asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Legolas turned and let his eyes once again scan the area trying to pin point the location of the speaker. Standing in the doorframe of a room he had just passed was an elf wearing a loose robe of silver-grey. He looked familiar, and Legolas struggled to try and place a name to the elf.
'Haldir. I wander, dressed as I am, because I could not locate my clothes,' Legolas said defensively, feeling suddenly exposed and vulnerable (not to mention foolish and young, the latter being an emotion he had been feeling often as of late, much to his annoyance).
Haldir smirked, in the most irritating of ways, before stepping clear of the doorframe he had been leaning against. He came to stand before the prince, and their eyes met briefly before Legolas looked away, feeling a blush creep across his cheeks.
'Well, little prince, let us see if we cannot find you something to wear if you insist on being up at this untimely hour.'
'My thanks for your assistance,' Legolas said quietly, before starting to follow the older elf back to the room he had been in before.
'Stay here for a moment, and I shall return.' It was not a request, and Legolas, recognizing an order when he heard one, could only nod dumbly in acknowledgment. The door clicked ever so softly behind the leaving elf.
Legolas passed the time by wandering around his room, letting his fingers touch everything that his eyes had already devoured. Soft fabrics, smooth polished wood and rough stone. He experienced his surroundings, and felt more peaceful for knowing them better. His explorations took him to the balcony. Standing fully out in the nighttime air gave him a sense of refreshment. The stars shone brightly and the trees could be heard talking quietly to one another.
Legolas let his eyes slide shut, and he reached out to the forest. He let his consciousness join in with the tree's song, and in repayment the trees shared their secrets with the prince. Legolas felt himself frown as he listened to the riddle ridden words.
'You should still be resting, neth cund (young prince),' came a gentle voice from behind him, startling Legolas from his contemplations.
Opening his eyes and turning quickly, he once again came to face Galadriel and, beyond her, Haldir. The March Warden was fully dressed, and carrying a tray with some food upon it, and Legolas wondered briefly how long he had been meditating with the forest.
'I feel I am well rested, Lady, by your care,' he replied honestly. 'I have not been given the chance to thank you for bringing me back from the darkness. I stand in your debt.'
'Thank me not, at least not until you have heard all of my confessions, my dear child,' the sorrow in her tone confused, and even frightened Legolas. Galadriel was a pillar of strength for the elven people, and to hear her sound so defeated troubled Legolas to no end.
Galadriel, sensing his trepidation, smiled reassuringly and extended her hand to him, which Legolas stepped forward and accepted. She gently took both of his hands in hers and ran her fingers over them gently, leaving tingling skin in her wake.
'It grieves my heart to know that our children are now forced to grow too soon into adulthood, and brave the evils of the shadows without guidance or aid. There are no words I can speak which will convince you to take the white ships from this land to Valinor, are there?
The question shocked Legolas. He was still considered young by the elves, having only reached his majority a few centuries ago, and so he bore the remarks about his youth with a patient understanding, but to hear talk of him leaving Middle-Earth... no, he was not yet ready. There was still so much here for him to see and experience. He could not abandon his friends to face peril alone. He shook his head slowly. 'Nay, Lady, it is not yet my time to sail to the undying lands. I feel I still have a purpose here.'
'Please, do not dismiss my words so quickly, for I would spare you if I could from future pains. There is nothing but darkness in your future here.'
The words frightened him, but he continued to meet her gaze. 'And what of my friends and companions, Lady? Should I leave them to face that horror in my stead? If my destiny is to be unpleasant, then so be it. I will not run.'
'It troubles you that the elves do not aid in this fight, does it not?'
Legolas knew it was pointless to hide his bitterness from her, so he spoke honestly, 'Yes, Lady. We flee and leave the defenceless to be slaughtered. We run from the world and leave it to be covered by shadows. It is too much. I cannot stand idly by and do nothing in the face of this threat. I am prepared for the consequences of that choice.'
She nodded and led him over to a small table, motioning for him to sit. Haldir laid the tray down in front of the Mirkwood Prince, bowed, and left. Legolas stared from the food, to the Lady Galadriel, and then back to the food again. Although it had been many days since he had last eaten, he found himself rather turned off by the thought of eating, after having heard the Lady's words. Ignoring it for the moment he turned to face the elven Queen once again.
'My companions are not here, are they, Lady?' he asked softly, feeling a growing sense of dread over the expected answer.
'No. They have continued on, for they found no shelter under these branches.'
Legolas felt an acute sense of disappointment well up within him, and he turned his head sharply so that the Lady might not see the accusation and sense of betrayal that sparkled in his blue eyes. He started though when he felt Galadriel's cool fingers touch his cheek, and then take hold of his chin to turn his face once more to her own. They stared at each other once again for an indefinite period of time, while she read all of Legolas' emotions as if he spoke them aloud. He felt tears gather in his eyes, to drip down warm upon his cheeks. He loathed the display of weakness, but felt powerless against Galadriel's grasp.
'Is there no hope, Lady? he asked softly, and his voice was strong despite his tears.
'Hope is an idea, Legolas. It is a thing of our own making. The question is, do you still hold to hope?'
'You speak of darkness in my future, and I know the company is being divided. The fellowship will break, for it has already begun, and I... I am afraid. I do not know if I have the strength for the trials ahead. Yet, I can be no more then what I am. I shall have to face it whether I hold to hope or not. Have you no words for me but those filled with despair?'
'There are naught but dark words in these dark times. Your soul is light, and your heart is pure. Remember that even in the darkness you will shine.'
'How far ahead are they?'
'No more then two or three days from here.'
'I will not reach them in time to stop the divide from happening, will I?'
'No. The fate of the fellowship is sealed. We have done all we can.'
'I think I must still go and try.'
'You must do as your heart dictates.'
'Some will not live through this, will they? Some of the fellowship will face their deaths on this quest.'
'All mortals must face their deaths eventually, Legolas. Most immortals must eventually settle in kind as well.'
'Will I?'
She paused and did not answer immediately. 'Will my answer affect your choice and actions?'
'I would like to think not.'
'Then hear these words from me: Legolas Greenleaf, long under tree in joy thou has lived. Beware of the sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, thy heart shall rest in the forest no more.' [1]
Legolas turned his head from Galadriel at this point. He closed his eyes against the tears that still desired to fall and wiped those that remained on his cheeks from his face. He stayed frozen like this for a long time, while he absorbed the message she gave him. Collecting himself, and wrapping the royal image that had been hammered into him since his birth about him, he once again opened his eyes now looking fully composed.
'I thank you for your warning.'
'Brave child, is there nothing I can give you to lighten your burden.'
'Nay, Lady, for my troubles are of their own making.'
They sat in silence then, for a while. It was a tentative knock at the door that stirred them. Haldir entered once again, carrying a pack in one hand, and a pile of folded clothes in the other.
'As you requested, little prince. Clothing,' he said, dropping what he carried upon the bed.
'Thank-you Haldir,' Legolas replied, rising from his seat to go over and collect his things, secretly glad for the distraction. Taking the inventory, he was sad to see that his weapons were not there, and that the clothing was not his own. Raising an eyebrow he glanced back at Haldir, who shrugged.
'When your companions turned you over to us they gave us nothing except you in person. I know not what they did with the rest of your things, and I can only imagine they were abandoned when we fled into the river to escape the orcs.'
'We shall provision you for your travels, young prince. You will be outfitted with the weapons of our people,' Galadriel promised softly. 'We will leave you to dress now, and see to the other preparations. Come dawn, I think you will be leaving us. I have enjoyed talking with you Legolas Thranduilion. May peace prevail in your soul.'
'Namárië, Lady. May the stars always light your path,' came his soft reply.
Author's Note:
[1] – This was a direct quotation from the book. It was Galadriel's message to Legolas via Gandalf when they finally caught up with each other again. I don't have the exact chapter of page number but I imagine most of you know what I am talking about anyway.
Also thanks to all my silent readers (if there are any). You guys are great and I hope you are enjoying the story, please leave me a review from time to time to let me know what you think of it.
Cheysuli
~ Wow, seven languages… I could not even identify some of those! Thanks for all the best wishes. The exam itself went ok (I think). I guess I will only really know once I get the grade back. I hope the Legolas chapter did not disappoint!merrylyn
~ Yep, I think the fellowship must be feeling the weight of the world upon their shoulders more now then ever. I wonder if Galadriel was doing them any favors by saying all of that, lol. Poor Legolas he got quite a few shocks in this chapter as well. I am glad you still think I am writing Galadriel and Haldir well. I felt it important to the fans of those characters that I did the best job I could!evil spapple pie
~ Sorry, Galadriel was still in this one, but she is gone now for good, I promise. Legolas will have plenty of more chapters devoted to him, but the next chapter takes us back to the fellowship.tenshiamanda
~ Hope the dream was realized in this chapter for you. I figured having a partially undressed Legolas wandering around in the moonlit rooms of Lothlorien was a pretty good dream, lol. What did you think? Thanks for your continuing reviews!Artemisa
~ I can sympathize with the long and painful exams. *sigh* The life of a student is so overrated. I am glad you liked the character interaction in the last chapter. I wanted it to come off as profound on some level so I guess I managed, lol. Keep your eyes out for the twins in later chapters. I will try to write them in just for you!