Chapter 25:
They arrived back in Minas Tirith before the week was out. The citizens of the city rejoiced in not only seeing their soldiers - family members - return, but also seeing their King alive and well. Valéa was content. Gandalf had returned her locket to her as soon as they had landed, and Valéa could feel it constantly throbbing against her chest. She hadn't looked at it, though. Not yet. She was too busy celebrating with the rest of the men and women.
Upon reaching the peak of Minas Tirith, Valéa immediately ran to the House of Healing. Eowyn had been holed up there, after being injured in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The blonde, upon seeing her friend, shrieked happily and the two of them embraced. Valéa smiled over her friend's shoulder, relieved that she had recovered.
A man cleared his throat behind them, and Valéa let Eowyn go. She turned and saw a man with shoulder-length brown hair and steely grey eyes. She gasped. He looked so much like Boromir. "You're Faramir, aren't you?" She asked quietly. "Boromir's brother."
Faramir nodded. "I am."
The elleth paused. "Where is he? I haven't seen him since we camped before the battle here."
Silence answered her question. Valéa shook her head. Was he dead? Eowyn stepped forward. "Don't worry, Valéa, he's alive." The elleth exhaled in relief. "Just injured. He's just next door, actually."
"He woke up only yesterday," Faramir added when Valéa moved to go see him. "He's weak, so please don't put too much strain on him."
Valéa laughed. "I won't, don't worry."
She left and then ducked into the next room. Boromir was propped up on his bed, a book in his hands. She cleared her throat, and Boromir looked up at her. His eyes filled with joy. "Valéa, you made it!" Valéa laughed and nodded, smiling as she sat on the edge of his bed. "I wondered if you'd died..." The man trailed off.
Shaking her head, Valéa patted his covered knee gently. "No, we all survived." A pause. "What happened to you?"
Boromir shrugged. "Got stabbed in the stomach. Nothing too serious." Valéa raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.
At that moment, Pippin came running in. "Valéa!" She turned her head his way, raising an eyebrow. "Frodo's awake!"
Valéa jumped to her feet and, after sending Boromir an apologetic look, dashed out of the room. She ran all the way to his room, and then came to a stop by her friends. Legolas, Aragorn and Sam were stood by the door, and seemed startled when she stopped by them. Then, they sent her a knowing smile, to which she just smirked.
They walked in, one-by-one. Valéa followed Legolas, and then Aragorn followed her. Valéa grinned at the sight of Merry and Pippin jumping and laughing with Frodo.
The little hobbit's face lit up even more when he saw them. "Valéa! Aragorn!" Valéa grinned at him as stood at the foot of the bed with everyone else. Legolas entwined his fingers with hers and they exchanged a glance. Valéa smiled at him a little. The feeling of his hand in hers felt right, somehow.
...
A strange silence had descended over Minas Tirith. Now the war was over and the celebrations had ceased, it was time to mourn and honour those who had died. The Pelennor Fields became a large graveyard. Valéa had stood by to watch as many soldiers were buried, but eventually it'd become too much for her, so she left.
Valéa then briefly visited Boromir, who was recovering quickly, before she went to the large courtyard in front of the palace. She was now leaning against the stone barriers, looking out over the city and beyond. The moon was whole in the sky, and it cast a white light over the land.
Valéa had been given a few more lessons in controlling her magic by Gandalf, and was now so acutely tuned to those around her that she knew someone was approaching her well before she heard them. So she knew someone was walking up to her now. And the intense feeling of sweetness and warmth that enveloped her told her it was Legolas. He leaned against the stone beside her. For a while, they stood in silence.
"When Aragorn's coronation is over, I promised Gimli I'd take him to Mirkwood." Legolas stated conversationally.
Valéa smiled. "Try to keep him behaved, will you? I doubt he'll be... let's go with courteous... in the company of strangers. Let alone elves."
Legolas chuckled. "Don't worry, I've already been given that warning by both Aragorn and Gandalf." He paused. "What are you going to do?" He asked.
Valéa shrugged. "I don't know. While part of me wants to return home to Lothlórien, the rest of me wants to travel and explore. Mirkwood sounds like a good place to go, now you mention it."
Legolas gently took her hand and squeezed it. "Why don't you check your locket? I know you've been ignoring it."
Valéa balked. "How do you know that?"
Legolas glanced down at the necklace. "I can see it moving when it's pressed against your skin. It's like a heartbeat."
Valéa chuckle. "Yeah, alright." She sighed. "I'm a little reluctant to look," she admitted. "After what happened last time, a part of me is suspicious of it, which I know a ridiculous."
The blonde ellon smiled. "It was a gift from Lady Galadriel. I don't think that warrants suspicion."
Valéa sighed. "No, you're right, of course." Valéa pulled the locket over her neck and moved to open it, but still she hesitated. Suddenly, she had an idea. "Hey, if you hold it and open it, does that mean it'll show you your desires?"
"I don't know." Legolas rolled his eyes.
"Care to find out?" Valéa offered up her locket.
Legolas accepted it and, after a very short hesitation, undid the latch. Bewilderment appeared on his face, before he smiled and shut it up again. "Well, those were definitely mine. I guess it changes depending on who's holding it."
"May I?" Valéa took back her locket and opened it. In front of her eyes were two pictures. The same picture of Legolas was there, as well as an unfamiliar wood. Mirkwood, probably. She closed up the locket and hung it back around her neck. "What did it show you?" She asked slowly.
Legolas picked up the end of her locket and showed her. On the left side was a picture of his father, on the other was... her? Valéa blinked, frowned, then felt tears in her eyes. She took the silver locket from him and the pictures changed before her eyes. She then allowed Legolas to see them. And through all this, her heart was pounding against her chest like fast-moving horse hooves.
Legolas suddenly pulled Valéa into his arms and crashed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, Valéa was startled into motionlessness, but eventually she thawed enough to return the kiss. His lips tasted of the woods, and faintly of berries of some kind. Valéa's arms circled around his neck and Legolas, in response to this, tugged her closer to him.
When they - finally - pulled apart, Legolas stroked her cheek with his thumb. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He whispered breathlessly to her.
Valéa's answering smile was dazzling. It lit up her entire face. "I know how you feel," she murmured, before kissing him again, this time a little less urgently.
...
The whole of Minas Tirith is gathered in the courtyard of the palace. Valéa was stood next to Legolas in a pure white dress. It was a dress made by humans, so felt heavy on her body, but it was beautiful.
Aragorn was being crowned King today. He was knelt on the steps to the hall. Gandalf lifted the crown high and then placed it on Aragorn's head. Valéa smiled proudly at her adoptive brother.
"Now come the days of the King." Gandalf said clearly to the crowd. Then, more quietly, he added, "May they be blessed."
He moved back and Aragorn walked up the steps. He took a deep breath and turned towards the people. His people. They all clapped and cheered.
"This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world, that we may share in the days of peace." Aragorn said calmly.
The people applauded again. Valéa looked up in wonder as petals began to fall down upon them.
Aragorn began to sing the song of Elendil, which Valéa now knew, having helped Aragorn to remember the words. "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta." (Out of the great sea to Middle Earth I am come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the end of the world.)
He then proceeded to walk down towards his people. Faramir and Eowyn bowed low to him. Eomer also bowed, and it was a bow that Aragorn returned. The elves approached him, Legolas and Valéa leading. The new King put his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Hannon le." He said to them both.
Valéa and Legolas smiled, and the ellon indicated behind him with his eyes. Aragorn looked behind Legolas. His two elvish friends stepped back, grasping each other's hand tightly as they watched his eyes widen in surprise. Arwen was there, walking towards him, holding a banner in her pale fingers. Aragorn moved forwards to meet her. He took the banner from her and gently passed it to the woman stood beside him. Arwen had tears in her eyes and she lowered her head. Aragorn lifted her face towards him, holding her chin. She smiled at him. Aragorn looked deeply at her and then claimed her for a passionate kiss, lifting her up and turning around with her as he did so, clearly overjoyed. Everyone cheered and Valéa glanced to her right to see Elrond smiling. Their eyes met and she winked, before turning back to the reunited couple. They kissed again tenderly. Arwen laughed and pulled him against her in a loving embrace.
They walked hand-in-hand and came to the hobbits. Valea and Legolas stood next to Arwen. The hobbits all bowed to Aragorn's in respect. This made Valéa smile widely.
Aragorn shook his head. "My friends," he said, making them look up, "you bow to no one."
He knelt down in front of them and lowered his head. Everyone copied him. Valéa glanced up very quickly to see the hobbits looked incredibly embarrassed. She smiled to herself and then looked at Legolas as they all straightened again. Everything had turned out just perfectly.
FINALLY! Alright, first kiss(es) between Valéa and Legolas! Took long enough (I said it would be an eventual Legolas/OC) ;)
Hope you liked it.