Chapter 29: Years Later
Author's Note: Sorry, but won't be updating for awhile. I've been working on something else. So, please be patient and the next chapter will be put up. Now on with the story.
Many years passed and the memory of Éowyn, Faramir, Elboron, Elboron's sisters, his brothers, Éomer, Lothíriel, and Elfwine never faded. They sadly had passed on like their parents. When the year of three hundred years passed, the Mirkwood elves were starting to leave. Years slowly went by and Legolas watched as his people began to leave Middle-Earth. When he saw Nólquen, his best friend, getting ready to leave with his wife, Eruvande, and their daughter, Almare, Legolas had to go say goodbye.
Nólquen had shoulder-length blonde hair, sapphire blue eyes; he wore brown boots, brown breeches, a brown tunic, and a silver undershirt. He had his weapons on his back and side.
Eruvande had waist-length blonde hair, lake-blue eyes, she wore pale rose shoes, a rose colored dress, and a dark rose colored mantle.
Almare had shoulder-length sun-blonde hair, night sapphire blue eyes; she wore pale green shoes, a green dress, and a dark green mantle.
"Nólquen, Eruvande, Almare, Losse and I have come down to say goodbye," Legolas stated.
"You can still change your mind about this," Nólquen reminded.
"I know, but Losse isn't ready to leave. Her whole family is still here," Legolas reminded.
Losse nodded and knelt in front of Almare. "You better be good, all right?" Losse asked. Almare walked over and hugged Losse.
"Come with us, Auntie Losse," she whimpered.
"I would love to come with you, Almare, but I have to stay here," Losse whispered.
She kissed the child's forehead and placed her into her mother's arms. "Goodbye, Eruvande, we'll see you again soon," Losse said. The two of them hugged before Nólquen helped his wife and daughter up onto the horse. Nólquen led the horse out of Mirkwood with the other elves that were leaving. Legolas wrapped an arm around Losse's waist as they watched them leave.
"We'll be joining them as soon as you want to," he whispered.
Losse nodded and then she knew that she had to tell him the news. "Legolas, I have something to tell you," she said.
"What is it?" He asked.
Losse took his hand in hers and placed his hand onto her stomach. "We're going to have a baby," she whispered. Losse yelped as Legolas scooped her up into his arms and twirled her into a circle.
"That is wonderful, the Valar gave us a second chance," he chuckled.
He placed her on the ground and kissed her forehead. "Our first child, maybe it'll be a girl that would be the image of you or maybe it'll be a boy that would be the image of me," he chatted excitedly.
"Legolas, Legolas, slow down, my love. The child isn't coming for moths, so calm yourself," Losse laughed.
Legolas nodded and kissed her forehead. They had to send a message to Aragorn and Arwen about the child.
Days passed and Losse heard horses coming up the path of Mirkwood. She stood up and walked over to the window. She saw Aragorn, Arwen, Eldarion, Ataralas, Alcie, and Elen enter the almost abandoned village. The rest of the elves were going to stay until Legolas left for Valinor. Losse hurried out the door and down the stairs towards her family.
Aragorn and Arwen smiled as their daughter hurried out of the castle and Aragorn spun her around as she entered his arms. He placed her on the ground and touched her cheek. "You are still beautiful," he said with a smile.
"Welcome, father, mother," she greeted.
She hugged her parents tight with a smile. Aragorn and Arwen hugged her back with sighs of happiness. "It's been a long time since we last saw you," Eldarion commented.
"The last time we saw you it was my sixteenth birthday," Elen stated.
"I've been busy. Remember, that I am Queen of this city, well whatever is left of it."
"Queen? I thought you were still a Princess?" Alcie asked.
"It has been a long time," Ataralas remarked.
"To the point where we see you as Queen, it has been a while," Eldarion teased.
Losse ruffled her brother's hair with a smile. Legolas came downstairs and smiled to see his wife reunited with her family at last. "I'm surprised that your children are not married yet," Legolas commented.
"Ataralas is getting married after her niece or nephew is born," Aragorn stated.
Losse gasped and pulled her sister into a hug. "That is wonderful news!" She gasped.
"Losse, Losse, you're choking me," Ataralas gagged.
"Oops, sorry."
Ataralas smiled and then they walked inside.
That night, Legolas walked into the room to see his wife fast asleep with a smile on her face. He walked over and climbed into bed. He thought about the first day he met her and a sigh escaped his lips at the memories. He felt his wife's hand on his and looked down at her. "Is there something troubling you, my husband?" She asked.
"No, I'm just remembering things," he replied.
"What are you remembering?"
"I was remembering the time we first met on your sixteenth birthday. I think that maybe all those years ago when you were sixteen and when you married at eighteen, I wonder if you ever thought that you were too young to marry me."
Losse sat up and looked him in the eye. "Legolas, I may have been a young girl at the time. I am an elf after all, but I still loved you then just as much as I love you now. My heart can never fade of the love that we have for one another. No other man could make me happy, no one," she explained. Legolas sat up and pulled his wife into a kiss. Then they lied down with happiness in their hearts. "Do you remember when we fist met?" She asked.
"Of course, it was your sixteenth birthday and you looked like a fallen angel from the Valar. I had fallen in love with you immediately," he answered.
Losse climbed onto him while her long hair fell over her shoulders and onto his chest. Legolas smiled and stroked her long dark hair. "To think that this child will be born in ten months. We may have a long while to wait, but we have the time to prepare," she whispered. Legolas pulled her into another kiss.
"The time of waiting may be awful, but the time of the child will be wonderful," he murmured.
Losse nodded and pressed her lips against his.
The next morning, Losse was out in the gardens in deep thought. Arwen came out into the gardens to see her daughter looking at a beautiful rose bush. "My child, for someone that will soon be a mother thinks way too much," she jested. Losse looked up with a smile.
"Mother, I didn't hear you come," she orated.
Arwen sat next to Losse and held onto her hand. "Losse, when the baby is born, your brother, sisters, father and I must return to Gondor," Arwen cautioned. Losse's smile faded and lowered her head.
"I understand," she mumbled.
Arwen lifted her daughter's face to see the tears falling from her eyes. "You knew that the day would come. Our place is in Gondor. Your sister's husband-to-be is in Gondor. You must understand that we cannot stay here," Arwen explained. Losse stood up with her hands on her stomach.
"Mother, it is not your departure that ails me," she mumbled.
Arwen stood up and stood behind her. "What ails you then, my child?" She asked. Losse turned to look at Arwen.
"I'm afraid to lose you and father. Your faces were the ones I saw above my cradle. You took care of me for eighteen years. Then I got married and became Princess of Mirkwood, the daughter of King Thranduil. The wife of Prince Legolas and now I'm becoming a mother. It's going all too fast," she babbled.
Arwen took her daughter into her arms and let her cry against her shoulder. "You knew that our time would come, Losse. Your father is mortal and I chose a mortal life," Arwen whispered.
"I never wanted you to take this path. Even though you love father with all of your heart and soul I cannot stop you from that. It is impossible for me to get you to Valinor, I know you love him. You love father ever so dearly, just like how I love Legolas with all of my heart and soul," Losse acknowledged.
Arwen pulled from the embrace and placed her hands on Losse's face. "Losse, you have grown from a baby into a child, from a child into a young woman, and now you're a full-grown woman married with a baby on the way. There won't be time for tears or weeping. I want to see that smile on your face when my time comes. If I sound foolish about it, I'm not being foolish. Your smile is what I want to see the last day I see you. The smiles of my grandchildren and my son-in-law. I want to see those smiles, Losse," Arwen informed. Losse nodded then Arwen kissed her forehead.
"I better go see father," she answered.
Losse left Arwen in the gardens and searched for Aragorn.
Aragorn was in the large library in Mirkwood looking at one of the books. Losse came in to see her father sitting in one of the chaises looking at a book. "Father," she whispered. Aragorn looked up to see his daughter in tears.
"Losse," he gasped as he swung his legs over the chaise while putting his book down, "what is it?"
Losse hurried over and threw her arms around his neck. "I don't want to leave Middle Earth when you pass on. I don't even want to leave this place behind. This is my home, my land," Losse sobbed.
Aragorn sat down in the chaise with Losse in his arms. "Hush, hush, what is the matter? What makes you think I'll be passing on so soon?" He asked.
"Father, you are a mortal, I am immortal. I don't like it for the fact that I'll be living forever," she sobbed.
"Losse, look at me," he demanded.
Losse looked at him and Aragorn placed his hands on her face and kissed her forehead. "This is the path that I must take. Your path is the path of immortal life. I have watched you grow into a beautiful woman. You are my daughter by blood or not you are my daughter," he affirmed. Losse nodded and placed her head against Aragorn's head. "Et Eärello Endorenna utùlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn ambar-metta!" He sang softly. Losse calmed down after hearing the words come from his lips once again.
"It has been many years since you last sang that to me," she commented.
Aragorn smiled and held her close. Legolas smiled to see that his wife was being comforted by her father once again. He decided to leave them alone and closed the door.
AN: I'll post the next chapter up as soon as I can. I have been very busy. Namaarie for now.
