Chapter 52

Final Farewell

I went back to my room and found Legolas still asleep. I smiled for he looked so peaceful and at ease. His flawless chest slowly rising and falling his hand over his heart. I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. I stroked his cheek and then put my hand over his.

"Wake up mi amor. You must prepare." I whispered.

His eyes slowly opened and focused on me. He reached up and cupped my face and his own held a smile.

"I love waking to your beautiful face. I hope to do so in peace soon."

I smiled and kissed the palm of his hand.

"I know, and that time of peace will come soon. This will be the final battle, I know it will." I said.

Legolas' POV

Her courage and optimism never ceased to amaze me. I sat up and kissed her hard on the lips. She seemed surprised at first but then she kissed me back. We separated to gasp for air and I held her face in my hands.

"When this is over…we are going to live in a good house and raise our children in peace."

She smiled and kissed me again.

"How many kids do you want?" she asked.

I smiled and pulled her onto my lap. She wrapped her legs around me and looked into my eyes.

"Hmm…perhaps….nine or ten."

She laughed and shook her head.

"Do you want me to lose my figure entirely? Do you know how painful that will be for me."

My smile fell off my face and I gave her a concerned look. She smiled and kissed me.

"If you want nine or ten kids then I will give you nine or ten kids. I would give you anything Legolas."

"I do not want you to be in pain….."

She smiled more and tightened her hold on me.

"The pain would be nothing compared to the joy of having a child. Especially with you." she told me.

My smile returned and I stood up. She squealed but kept her legs locked tightly around me.

"Do you want that many?"

She smiled.

"I want a big family. I want a lot of children and grandchildren and so on."

I smiled and pulled her to me.

"Then I will give you as many children as you want. I want you to be happy."

She kissed my chest, neck, cheek and then my lips.

"~Just being with you makes me happy.~" she whispered.

She kissed me one more time before standing up. I sighed, because I knew neither of us may return from this battle. She held her hand out to me and I took it. I stood up and looked into her eyes.

"We cannot know what lies ahead." she said.

"I know and that is what scares me most of all."

She gave me a little smile.

"You did not let me finish."

I nodded and she went on.

"But no matter what happens tomorrow, I promise you that both of us will live. We will live and have that peaceful life we have been talking about. With our sons and daughters and everything else. That is what we are going to fight for."

I nodded.

"Then I shall fight to my last breath if need be. A life of peace with you is all I shall ever want."

I pulled her lips to mine and kissed her hard. She stroked my face and I pulled back.

"~We have only a few more hours until dawn. I must prepare and you must rest.~" I said gently.

As I got up she took my hand. I looked back at her but she was looking outside.

"Meleth nin?"

"I have this feeling, I know not if it is good or bad." she whispered.

I sat back down and pulled her onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and she took a deep breath.

"I do not want a repeat of Helms Deep Legolas. I do not think my heart could bear it." she told me.

I closed my eyes and tunneled my hand into her hair.

"I promise you I will be careful. Nothing will keep me away from you." I told her.

She tightened her hold on me and I felt her tears on my skin.

"No, do not cry my darling Elena."

She laughed a little and pulled back.

"I am sorry. I just never want to see you in such pain again. I wished I could take your place. For me to be in pain, not you, never you." she whispered.

I stroked her face gently and then placed my hand on the side of her face. She leaned into my palm and kissed it. I loved her so much and I never wanted her to cry.

"~The only way I can truly be in pain is if you or Alejandro get hurt.~"

She nodded and I kissed her before standing up. Dawn was nearly upon us and I had to prepare. I left the room and hoped Elena would get a little more sleep.

Elena's POV

I could not sleep. Once I was awake I very rarely fell back asleep. I wrapped a robe around me and went to the balcony. I looked out to Mordor.

"I know you can see me you bastard. And I know you can hear me one way or another. You will be defeated one way or another! And I will not rest until you are dead for good! You take the most precious things in life and destroy them. So when you are destroyed, I will doing a victory dance and throwing a party!" I said.

I turned away and got dressed. I walked through the quiet, empty halls of palace. I found a room with a black cloth over the door. In my heart I knew that this was Boromir's room. I reached out slowly and turned the handle. The cloth fell to the ground and I slowly walked inside.

"I knew you would eventually find this room."

I smiled at Boromir's voice. Tears welled in my eyes and I turned to look at him.

"You saved my brother. I am eternally grateful to you Elena."

I shook my head.

"I would have helped him anyway. I still wish I could have helped you." I said.

My voice shook slightly and I looked down.

"I know you would say there was nothing I could do…..but I think there was. I could have run faster, harder. You were far too young to die my friend. And I blame myself."

Tears were freely rolling down my cheeks. I slowly fell to my knees and shook my head.

"I miss you my friend. I miss you everyday." I cried.

"Oh Elena I miss you as well. And your brother and the others. But my time in this world is over. I only remained to tell you of my brother. Now I must go."

I looked up at his face. I knew he had to go, but I did not want him to.

"It was an honor to know you Elena. Even though at times we fought….I value your friendship and I always will. I shall be watching over you and your brother. Thank you for everything you have done. You are a good woman and a noble warrior. Do not weep for me, rather remember me with happiness. Farwell, Lady Elena Delavaga."

I reach out for his hand but he was gone. I closed my eyes and my hand fell to my side.

"Namarie Boromir mellon nin." I whispered.

I stood up and dried my eyes.

"I will always remember you." I said.

"So I take it you are the one I owe my life to."

I jumped slightly and turned. Faramir stood in the doorway.

"I did not mean to startle you." he said.

I nodded and he walked in.

"You are the elf's wife are you not? The Lady Ireth?"

I nodded.

"You were there when my brother…."

I nodded curtly. He looked down.

"I heard you….at least I believe I did. I believe you said, 'Do not die on me Faramir. I watched your brother die I cannot watch you die too.'" he told me.

I nodded a third time.

"Yes, that was me. You look like him….he was a dear friend. And I just said good bye to him."

"I thought I heard you speaking with someone. So you can see the dead?"

I shook my head.

"I only saw Boromir because he had unfinished business in this world."

"What sort of business my lady?"

I slowly looked up at him.

"To protect you." His eyes went wide. "He asked me to protect you Faramir. He loves you much, you were his brother and he wanted nothing more than to get back to you. And I will continue to honor his wish."

I walked past him but he spoke once more,

"Thank you….I know you tried to save him from himself."

I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

"I should have tried harder." I whispered.

I left without another word and Legolas found me in the hall. I looked at him but there was nothing to say. He gave me a concerned look but I just threw my arms around him. He held me tightly and I fought back tears and took a deep breath.

"~Boromir has passed on.~" He said.

I could only nod. I felt his lips on my hair and I sighed.

"~I knew sooner or later he would have to go…..but in the end I….I…~"

"~Hush now! I know, I understand. I have lost friends over the years. I know it is difficult. I will be with you every step of the way. I made you a promise…..I will never break any promise I make you.~" he whispered.

I smiled a bit and looked up into his eyes.

"~Without you I would be running amuck killing every orc I saw.~"

He laughed. I loved it when he laughed.

"~Indeed you would be. And I love you so much, my beloved Elena.~"

I kissed him hard.