Chapter 12

Valia walked past the gardens into a small clearing of shrubs were a few statues stood. Valia stopped and looked at the statues then knelt down and placed a rose at the feet of a tall statue of a male elf.

"Ada if you can hear me, please, please tell me why you left me and Valain. Please forgive me for every problem I've ever caused." She put her head in her hands. (Father)

"Valia?" Legolas asked as he came around another statue.

"Legolas!" Valia raised her head up shocked that the elven prince was there. "Why are you out here?"

He bent down and took her hand gently in his raising her off the ground and onto her feet. He walked around the statue of Lord Mywiel and still holding onto her hand stopped in front of a statue of a female elf. He dropped Valia's hand as she stopped beside him. Valia's eyes widened when she saw the elf.

"Legolas she's beautiful, but who is she?" She looked at the statue and then back at Legolas when he sighed.

"She's my mother. I just," He paused. " With everything that happened memories of my mother came back. She died when I was very young."

"Oh. Legolas I'm so sorry." She looked down at her feet. "I always thought she sailed over the sea. How did she die?" She looked up and strait into Legolas' eyes.

Something surged through his body and he went numb. It wasn't because of what she said but the way she looked at him. He looked back into her eyes thinking she would turn away like the other maidens, she didn't. She held her gaze and did not turn away. He did. He looked down at his feet then back up at her to see she had kept her gaze but slightly tilted her head.

"Just like your mother."

Valia stepped forward and placed her hand on Legolas' upper arm.

"Oh, Legolas I'm so sorry. I, I didn't know. How could I have acted like that years ago when you've know how your mother died and you've never complained."

"That's not completely true. I did complain and I blamed myself. It wasn't easy to learn how my mother had died. I felt like my father had lied to me, but I learned to realize that it wasn't my fault. No one knew my mother was going to die."

Valia's hand had not moved from Legolas' arm. All of a sudden she broke down and collapsed into his arms.

"Legolas, I feel like my whole world is crashing down on me and all I can do is watch. I've lost my mother and father and now I only have Valain and what if something happens to him I'll be lost. I'm so scared of something that I don't know will even happen."

"Valia calm down. It's alright. Nothing is going to happen to Valain, he is still here in Mirkwood with you." He pulled her head up so he could see her eyes. "And you will always have me and my father." He gently pushed a few inches away from her remembering something his father had told him. He decided to tell Valia also. " My father told me after I calmed down about learning how my mother died that they could see us if we stood by the statues and even now I still believe him." He looked up at the sky and then back at Valia. " Dinner will probably be ready, the sun is setting."

Legolas looked at the sunset then at Valia once more and walked towards the palace. Valia looked up at the statue of Legolas' mother then turned to leave when something caught her eye. There was another statue. She walked past the statue of Queen Seremela and saw another beautiful female elf. It was her mother. Valia smiled and looked toward the west and saw the red sky slowly fading to the black of night. She looked once more at the statue of her mother, smiled, and walked up to the palace.

Valain walked down the long hallway to wake up his sister. He intended to take her on a peaceful horseback ride through the forest to a small stream to spend the day. Valain reached the door to his sister's room and knocked quite loudly. Valia answered back sleepily.

"Come in"

Valain opened the door and walked in the room. He walked over to the red velvet curtains that hung closed in front of the balcony. He opened them letting the red and golden sunrise fill the room with light. Valia sat up and pulled the sheets up with her.

"Why did you wake me up the sun is barely up?"

"I want to take you to the stream in the forest today. So get dressed and meet me in the dining room."

Valain smiled down at his sister and left her to change, closing the door behind him. Valia looked out the balcony, groaned, and flopped back down on her bed. After a few minutes Valia threw the sheets off of her and slid out of bed. She walked across the room, opened the wardrobe and pulled out a blue riding dress.


Valia and Valain had been riding for about thirty minutes when they reached the stream. Valain jumped off his horse and helped Valia down from hers. Valia walked to the stream and removed her shoes. She sat down and placed her feet ankle deep in the water. The bottom of her dress barely reached the water but the edge that did turned a dark blue. Valain sat down beside her. Valia placed her head on her brothers shoulder and sighed.

"Valain promise me you will never leave me."

When Valain didn't respond to her she looked up at him. Valain stared strait forward and Valia's eyes followed his. When she realized there was nothing there she turned back to him.

"Valain, promise me you wont leave me. Please tell me you will stay in Mirkwood with me forever."

Valain finally answered his sister's plead. " Valia I brought you out here today because I need to tell you something."

She sat in front of her brother ignoring the water that now soaked her dress up to her bent knees. "Well that's never good."

"Valia orcs have come back to the borders of Rivendell and I must go. Valia I don't want to go but I must." Valain voice began to get higher. " I promised ada that I would take his place." (Father)

"You also told me that you promised my mother that you would watch me and look after me. Tell me you will stay Valain please don't go we've lost our father and mother and I don't want to loose you."

"Valia I have no choice I leave tomorrow afternoon for Rivendell. I do not know how long I will be gone but I must go."

"You Promised! You promised our mother you would look after me! How can you do that if you aren't here!" Valia screamed at her brother as she stood up crying and jumped on her horse and raced to the palace.

"Valia if you only knew that I will always be with you in your heart no matter where I am. If only you knew. If only you… knew" Valain voice died down to a soft whisper as he climbed onto his horse and rode back to the palace.