Chapter 29 Epilogue
Legolas laughed watching the mess Gimli had become in the mast of the boat. He retrieved his knife until Gimli panicked.
"I will get myself loose," Gimli insisted.
Legolas sighed and cuts the binds of the mast, "Before or after you cease to breathe." He pointed to the rope that had been tightening around Gimli's neck.
Gimli threw down the rope disgusted and exhaled watching Legolas's deft and swift footing as he seemed to dance around the boat readying it for departure. "I take it you've packed all you're going to need?"
Legolas nodded tugging slightly at the mast ropes to repair them. Something caught both friend's attention but only Legolas seemed to catch what it was."Do you feel that, Gimli?" Legolas asked with a smile as the wind moved his hair slightly and seemed to kiss his skin.
"It's an odd wind all right," Gimli looked past to waves that were breaking slowly.
"It's Arri," Legolas said catching his breath. He heard Gimli gasp and he turned to the dwarf following his view. Legolas could not believe it what he saw.
Among the trees was a very blonde and very curly haired elf moving slowly with a satchel of flowers in her hands.
"It can't be…." Gimli said softly but he watched as Legolas was already running from the boat to the image that had since disappeared.
Legolas followed the scent that only seemed reminiscent of Arri now until he heard a female elf singing. He followed the same sweet voice almost intoxicated by it.
He saw an elf with her back to him and her pale blonde hair and curly texture had him intrigued. He knew by her mannerism and the scent and her voice it was not Arri but the resemblance was striking. She seemed to sense his presence finally and turned around quickly eyeing him.
Legolas took her in slowly noting the subtle differences between this elf and his beloved but the elf looked like she would run at any moment.
He realized he had been staring and sighed, "I am sorry but you look very much like somebody I knew."
She cocked her head, "Arri?" She smiled as she asked. "My grandmother told me of her." She sighed.
"Why did you not go to say goodbye then?" He asked her quickly.
"I did not know her at all," She fingered a flower from her satchel. "It would be saying hello more than goodbye would it not?"
He sighed seeing her manner of speaking was much like Arri and her aqua eyes sparkled as she spoke evidently taken with the elf who stood before her.
She produced an ivory knife quickly hearing the out of breath gasping from Gimli padding up through the trees.
She balanced the tip on her fingertips until Legolas raised his hand to her.
Gimli's eyes grew wide, "That is your ghost?" He also looked the elf over.
"Ul?" She echoed and looked to Legolas for answers in elvish, "Ach i hadhod di dh ?" She chuckled, "taite car gwend."
*Ghost? *Is the dwarf with you * Such a strange pair
Legolas nodded, "who are you?" He asked her simply so Gimli was not left from the conversation.
She smiled a smile that made Legolas melt for it was Arri's same smile, "I am Lossie granddaughter of Aine." She smiled but at the mention of Aine's name she noticed the two friends traded a glance. She squinted her eyes, "you know Aine?"
"Yes," Legolas said slowly. "I am Legolas of Mirkwood."
Lossie gasped dropping her satchel, "Husband to Arri? Prince of Mirkwood?."
"You know of me?" Legolas was mystified. "How is it I have not heard of you?"
"Grandmother and I kept to ourselves," Lossie sighed. "She said we do not have to any longer." She touched the flowers in her satchel thoughtfully.
"Why did Aine not tell me or Arri?" Legolas wondered aloud.
"She would answer that." Lossie seemed bored with the conversation already and her eyes wandered past them to the trees. She was taken by Legolas's handsome looks but to discuss a relative she never knew was not worth her time.
Legolas sighed, "We are keeping you," He turned to Gimli to leave, "the resemblance to Arri is very bewitching."
Gimli crossed his chubby arms, "yes and no." He looked to Legolas as if he were insane to leave the lovely elf but Legolas had moved away already and Lossie began to move further into the trees.
"Do you legs only know one speed?" Legolas asked him as he realized Gimli wasn't following him.
"She went that way," Gimli pointed to Lossie. "How can you sail after seeing her?"
"She is not my wife," Legolas met his eye tiredly. "The water is waiting."
"It can wait," Gimli nodded to Lossie who seemed to linger close to the duo.
Legolas sighed wondering what she wanted and what she did not ask as he moved to her slowly, "Lossie?"
She cocked her head at him, "Prince Legolas?"
He rolled her eyes, "Legolas…" he sighed at the formality of her tone.
Gimli chuckled, "I will meet you on the boat."
"You seem to remain for a reason," Legolas exhaled.
"What was she like?" Lossie asked.
"A mirror would answer that question more than I could," Legolas watched her move closer seeing she was obviously attracted to him which made him uncomfortable.
"When shall you return?" Her bright eyes beckoned him for an answer.
"When the wind blows us back," Legolas answered now wondering if Arri had guided him to this elf.
Lossie handed him a flower and began to move away, "Perhaps you will feel better when you return."
The question played in his mind as she moved away, "Lossie." He stopped her retreat catching her quickly by the elbow. Being this close to her he realized the closeness of her to Arri, it was spooky.
Lossie touched his face gently as she moved closer, so close she could feel his breath on her nose. She, like Arri, was a little shorter than other elves and had to turn her head up to face him finding a closeness she wanted to explore. She rocked to the top of her toes and brushed her lips to his. Once she tried to deepen the kiss Legolas backed away slowly. She felt him kiss her head gently and then he put distance between them.
"It was a pleasure, Princess," he said certain she knew her entire lineage. Then he wondered as he moved from her side. "I hope to see you when we return." He noted Lossie unlike Arri seemed completely elfin aside from her height and hair. Was she cousin to Jareth a Arri? Was she related to men as Arri was? She merely nodded a bit embarrassed as she moved swiftly away in the other direction.
Gimli continued to chuckle as he struggled with the mast. He wondered if Legolas would bring the other elf with the or if the trip was cancelled. He was taken speechless seeing Legolas return alone.
Legolas raised an eyebrow at him and Gimli's questioning stare.
"What happened with the elf?" Gimli finally gave in and asked.
Legolas shrugged, "she is not my wife."
"Life goes on, elf." Gimli reminded him.
"Yes, as it shall when I return to Mirkwood," Legolas sighed, "I have a lifetime to ponder this elf and the waters call."
Gimli smiled knowing Legolas was interested in her and he realized his friend still needed time.
"If we do not leave soon we will miss the wind," Legolas said almost sadly.
"Come then master elf," Gimli said running the ropes along the mast, "We will catch the wind and let your wife guide our sails."
"She might," Legolas sighed. "I think our own adventures shall be very different."
Gimli agreed as the ship moved to the water slowly, "yes," Gimli agreed as he backed into Legolas sending him into the water. Gimli halted the ship to retrieve his friend and as he gave his hand to Legolas to help him back into the boat but Legolas used the leverage to pull Gimli into the water with him.
As Gimli began to float and kicked his arms wildly to get to Legolas and the boat he heard the elf chuckling.
"Dwarves are buoyant," Legolas chuckled as he climbed the side of the boat easily and noiselessly.
Gimli sputtered letting the water fly from his mouth as he drug himself aboard, "Should be an interesting trip."
Author's note:
Gimli and Legolas sailed all over the world and for many years becoming very
unlikely friends to all that they greeted. Did they have adventures in their sailing? Yes but
that is another story… Did Legolas return home to Mirkwood once his heart healed
and meet up with Lossie? Did he kindle a relationship with her?
That also is another story…..
Also as you might note I returned Legolas to the time and place (so to speak) of where
the adventures should pick up with Legolas and Gimli when they do sail after the yet this version is a bit different
Fellowship…. Please send constructive feedback if you have any :)
Thank you for reading this! Perhaps there is another fic in me yet :)
I wrote this over ten years ago now and since then I have been asked for the sequel to this. Fee free to look for the sequel because most is already done
