Chapter 29
F.A. 120
Middle Earth
Soft light filtered through the thick tree branches, their leaves rustling in the cool breeze. Birds chirped as they flitted through the air above. Wood creaked as the carriage rolled over the uneven ground bellow, rocking gently. The reins gave a small tap to the horse's flank, urging the pace to quicken as the path widened and become more traveled. Gimli's snores were the only things keeping him company as they rode through Fangorn. It had been many years since they last traveled these lands, but both had decided to see the forest and the Glittering Caves one last night. A part him wished to prod the old dwarf awake, but he did not have the heart. His once vibrant red beard was now mostly grey steaked red and the once youthful face was lined with age. Having outlived many of his kin and family. Legolas first went back to the caves Gimli treasured and rebuilt, letting his old friend show him the work put forth in the years apart.
Not one for caves and dark places, the elf had to admit the caves were still as impressive as they had been all those years ago after Sauron's defeat. The caverns glistened in the candlelight, fooling the eye to think of stars twinkling in the night sky. There was a constant hum of musical voices drifting from the depths as dwarves mined far below their feet. Women and young children bustled about on the upper levels tending to the gardens and home. It was an ingenious idea how they created their gardens. Finding small valleys in the mountain, they bore through the stone, creating openings. Under these open skylights, they built raised platforms with a tremendous amount of soil and compost. Here, the plants received plenty of natural water and sunlight to flourish underground.
By the end of his visit, he had begun to feel claustrophobic and edgy, though he would never say so to his dwarf friend. And so, he let him sleep as they passed under the forest canopy, Legolas knowing his friend would not be sad to miss some of the scenery. However, it was this solitude that he feared and dreaded, it was a dark cloud that seemed to loom over him threatening to consume him, choke him. The forest, no matter how beautiful, could not keep his thoughts from straying. Try as he might, he could not keep the images from his mind. Images that spanned from their first meeting to the fateful day he had lost her—the last haunting his dreams, plaguing his mind, and tormenting his soul.
"Ye should've awoken me lad," Gimli's rough voice spoke beside him, jarring him from his unpleasant thoughts.
"I saw no reason." He replied, not speaking the truth.
"No reason for ye to suffer alone. Do not try and say otherwise, I have known ye too long and seen that look far too many times."
"Hmpf."
"The air feels different in here. Its more open, freer, but there is something missing." He spoke, noting the difference immediately upon awakening. Before the air was close, thick, hard to breathe. The forest was old, ancient even, full of anger from the destruction wrought by Saruman.
"Magic is leaving the shores. It is an age of man. The Ents have long since disappeared, taking with them their magic and life force. It is as if Fangorn is no more than an ordinary forest now." Legolas replied, saddened by the loss.
"It is a sad time indeed. I am all the readier to see the shores of Valinor and feel the magic we once held here."
"Aye my friend, so am I." Legolas replied, eyes glazed and unfocused.
Gimli felt a pang of sympathy for his friend, knowing he suffered much more than just the loss of Aragorn, his death had brought the loss of Evelyn crashing back to the princeling. The dwarf too felt a pang of grief, but knew it was nothing compared to what the elf felt. He had not spoken her name or about any event in which Evelyn was a part of. It was his love of Aragorn and his people that kept him here, kept him going. But now all his kin had sailed, as they lingered on, now left with no reason to stay.
The duties of ruling Ithilien and counseling Aragorn, while teaching Eldarion for Kingship, kept Legolas busy he knew. In their correspondence, it was clear he never spared a moment for himself. Gimli suspected this was the longest the elf had been without a duty to occupy his mind and their route would take them past many place they had traveled with their former companions. What was more, while Gimli was excited about what adventure lay ahead and what wonders he would see in the Undying Lands, Legolas feared what or whom he would not find there.
Legolas appreciated Gimli's concern and attempt to distract him from his thoughts, though it failed. The fresh grief of Aragorn's passing laid heavy on his soul. He had worked to prepare himself for many years now, though he was not sure it lessened the blow. It had taken many years for his anger towards his friend to lessen after Evelyn's death. In his heart, he knew Aragorn had never been to blame, but anger was easier to deal with than his grief. It was this anger that kept him from fading, his friendship with Gimli, and his duty to his people. Immersed in his settlement and his travels, his anger diminished.
It brought joy back into his life when he had reconnected with the Gondorian King. The darkness that threatened to consume him retreated to a back corner of his soul and the emptiness eating away at him vanished. Now they both came back, attacking him with a vengeance. There was nothing left for him anymore, Legolas felt his soul dimming daily. Sailing to Valinor was now his only option, taking Gimli with him.
…
Valinor
F.A. 97
"Why do I feel as if you are purposefully dressing me up to show off?" Evelyn question Celebrían as she placed the intricate circlet adorned with ice blue stones on her head, letting it rest gently upon her brow. The elleth in question only smiled, moving to adjust her dress one final time.
The gown was exquisite, like most that were sent to her to wear for such events. The inner material sat flush with her skin, it silky material hugging her body. The outside was overlaid with a thin gauzy mesh of pale blue. Silver and blue gems adorned the dress in intricate patterns. The thin straps sat on the outer edges of her shoulders, going down to create a deep V shape down her back. The front held a deep scoop neck, lined with the deep blue gems.
The dress was completed with a long cape that connected to the shoulder straps, draping behind her made of the same material as her gown, the light blue mesh was decorated with the gemstones set in a pattern of dark blue roses surrounded by silver stars, the pattern getting heavier towards the cape's edges.
"You do not show yourself off, someone must." The older elleth chided, causing Evelyn to snort.
"I am perfectly content on my mountain, thank you."
"Perfectly content to hide away, you mean." Evelyn cut her eyes at her friend. As she reached for her goblet of wine. "Hiding will not mend your heart, it will not bring Legolas here."
Evelyn froze, goblet half way to her mouth. She forgot to breathe, her eyes unfocused. Her mind instantly filled with images of the blonde elf prince. All the memories of their stolen moments, stolen kisses…the memories of his rejection. She had not been good enough for him, nor his father, at least not while they thought her mortal. Everything had changed when he found otherwise. A part of her had been thrilled he had come back, but more so it hurt. It had been a foolish childish fantasy—girl falling for the Prince and the Prince loving her back. Even in a fantasy world, such endings did not happen. Closing her eyes and pushing the images away, she downed the wine in one swift gulp as she rose from the chair turning swiftly to leave the room.
"Wait! Evelyn, do not leave!" Celebrían called, rushing from her seat, "I am sorry, I should not have said anything, it is not my place." She pleaded.
"No, it was not your place," She stated flatly, never pausing on her way to the door.
Back in her room, Evelyn released the breath she was holding, fighting back the tears. Elrond's wife meant well she knew, and she also knew that the twins were sure to have told her everything and she did not begrudge them that. She did however, wish for people to quit meddling in her life. Maybe she was hiding and running from her pain, but that was her choice, not theirs, and it was working for her. Every day Evelyn could push the memories further away, until now. To make matters worse, she was once again in Tirion, here she could not release her grief, let it devour her. Here she had to hold it all in, pretend that everything was okay. Though from her reaction and the look on Celebrían's face she was fairly certain the poor woman would ever even dare to bring up the topic again, and that was fine with her.
She downed another goblet, cursing the fact she could not get drunk. One day she would learn to ignore the summons to these events. She never spoke her fear, but part of her always feared that one day at the welcoming ceremonies, she would be faced with Legolas' arrival. The twins she knew still held a deep-seated anger against the Mirkwood Prince, she would not put it past them to flaunt her in front of him in jest just to see his unprepared reaction. Sometimes, she did not know how she tolerated them. Once thing was certain, since their arrival, her quiet secluded life had lost much of its quiet and seclusion.
Did Celebrían bring up Legolas for just that reason, her mind wandered. Her stomach knotted, threatening to spill all the wine she drank. Grasping the back of the chair she closed her eyes, forcing herself to take long, slow, deep breaths. No, she told herself. If Legolas had arrived, someone would have told her. If not Haldir, the Lady Galadriel at least. They would prepare her, surely. But what was she in for tonight? If not Legolas, then who? There were few other elves she knew left in Middle Earth and none she wished to see again.
A knock sounded on the door, and Evelyn rose to answer, wondering which poor soul Celebrían sent to escort her to the banquet hall. Opening the heavy oak door, she locked eyes with Gandalf. Of course, they would send the wizard. Probably smart on their part, she could not stay mad at him, though he rarely did anything that warranted forgiveness.
"Good Evening my dear," he greeted, placing a light kiss on her forehead above the circlet. "You look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you, Gandalf," she replied, offering a small smile.
"Celebrían sent me, seemed to think someone other than in her family should escort you." Evelyn just nodded, wanting to talk about the issue, but finding her mouth hesitant. Gandalf, being true to himself, said no more, but simply offered his arm, which she took willingly.
They had been walking for a while, slowly ambling through the city. She knew he was purposefully taking the longest route possible to the ball room where the feast was being prepared. Silently she thanked him for as the words began tumbling from her mouth.
"Is this celebration for Legolas' arrival?" She could not look at the Maiar beside her, scared of what his face might show.
"Is that what you fear?" He asked, voice soft, showing no sign of judgement.
"Yes. Ever since the twins arrived, the secrecy and the surprise around their welcome. Each one I have been drug to since, has been in secrecy, no one will tell me for whom the celebrations are for. Each one is worse than the last as fewer elves are left to return, one day, it will be him the celebrations are for."
"While I cannot say I condone their behavior towards these events, I can easy your worry that upon this occasion, Legolas is not among those. I can also tell you that among the new arrivals will be King Thranduil and the Lady Corwen." Gandalf chuckled at her look of disgust. "Who earns that glare, it would send orcs fleeing."
"I am not sure who I wish upon more, if that is the case," She retorted, breaking into the first smile since she left Celebrían's chambers. Gandalf outright laughed at her, heartened to see her so easily brought back to them and away from her fear.
"There, that is more what I would like to see. I believe there are two haughty elves that deserve to be put in their place."
"Gandalf! That sounds more of something the twins would say, not a wizened wizard." She joked.
"Even a wizard is due his entertainment at times. And you my dear are dressed to rival the Valar, and the people who have met you, revere you. It will gall Thranduil more than I can express."
Evelyn shook her head, "Alright then, I shall let you have your fun, let us get this over with. I have a set of twins to kill post haste."
…
Evelyn had to admit, the look on Thranduil's face was priceless as he saw her seated just to the left of the Valar, among the Maiar. It was a look of pure shock, eyes round and bulging. She was not sure if he had even been so not composed in his life. She wanted to laugh, but kept herself inline. Angering the king was not on her agenda, but there was no hiding the twinkle in her eyes. What was much more satisfying, was watching Corwen stride in, her haughty air permeating the room. Her one happy thought was that if she was here, nothing had come of her and Legolas. Whatever had previously occurred between them was not rekindled.
Corwen's cheeks turned about as red as her dress, which clung to body like a glove. Evelyn was certain she was close to bursting. From the looks the twins shot her, they were quite amused. She had to smile at them, even if she was planning to kill them later. Those two were infectious.
After the feast was over, most of the Valar departed and the Maiar once greeting and pleasantries were exchanged, only Gandalf remained. Evelyn did her best to avoid the new comers, choosing instead to linger by the drink table, drinking generously.
"Are you planning to drink us dry?" The cool voice spoke behind her, causing her to startle. She did not turn to look at the Mirkwood King.
"Perhaps." She replied just a coldly. She missed the King's sneer, but she could very well imagine it in her mind.
"Is it working for you?"
Evelyn snorted, "Unfortunately not. I am still here perfectly sober."
"Take a turn with me."
"Excuse me?!" She exclaimed, finally looking at the ellon, startled at the resemblance he bore to Legolas, her breath caught in her throat, that she attempted to cover with a cough.
"We are drawing attention."
"We shall draw more dancing." Was her retort.
"Ah, yes, but I do not plan to leave until you concede." Thranduil stated, watching as more people began to eye them, and Evelyn began fidgeting with nerves. It would not be long now.
"Oh fine!" She tossed her hands up in exasperation, then turned to offer Thranduil her arm, he just looked at her with a raised brow. "You forced me to dance, you have to at least act the gentleman."
"Very well." He grumbled, taking her arm and leading her to the floor and just as he planned, the dance floor cleared around them.
"Why a dance?" She asked as he spun her lightly across the floor.
"Less people to overhear our speaking."
"And why should that matter?" Evelyn questioned.
"I wish to speak of my son."
She froze, only the grace of Thranduil's elven blood and his strong arms kept her up and her body moving, so none were the wiser. His irritation was written clearly on his face however.
"I do not wish to speak on this matter. I believe we have already spoken on it enough." She replied after many moments of composing herself. Her voice was soft, grating in her throat. Her heart beating wildly, causing her chest to ache furiously, and her mind frantically working to push thoughts and images of Legolas back into their neat box.
"You still have feelings for him," was his bland statement, cutting her like a knife.
Closing her eyes Evelyn forced back the tears. She glared at the King. "Does it matter, my feelings? You have made yours perfectly clear, and dictated your sons. We all must now learn to live them." She broke away from his grasps, "I believe your wife wishes a dance," she stated, depositing him to her, Elladan instantly at her side to replace Thranduil, the transition seamless.
"You do not have to glare at me so, I did come to your rescue." He laughed, nudging her gently with this hip.
"If it also wasn't for you, I would have been prepared for seeing the Mirkwood King along with his lackey. There will be retribution."
Elladan's look of horror was enough to make her night. She smiled evilly at her brother, wanting to scare him more. Though she would not truly do anything terrible, Elladan did not have to know that. And so she spent the rest of the evening ignoring Thranduil and Corwen to the best of her ability and making threats to the twins as she spoke with Elrond and his family.
…
A/N: okay, so sorry guys for the long delay, life has been crazy! I hope not to keep you waiting so long in the future. As always, read and review. Let me know your thoughts and ideas, I love hearing from my readers!
