Chapter 44 everyone!
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Chapter 44: Legolas
Hobbits were brave creatures, was all that he could think of as the meeting was over. He watched the four curly-haired boys standing together in a huddle, whispering, though most of the gathered could hear them anyway.
He shared a look with Aragorn and the man smiled sadly at him, looking tired. He was talking to Gandalf and Lord Elrond, while the dwarves walked out of the room with their heads held high; well, as high as they could. Boromir wandered off on his own, ignoring the Men that had come with him from Gondor. The elf prince felt strangely alone.
Iorisben was walking towards him and he could see the disapproval in the other elf's brilliant green eyes. He increased the speed of his steps, sneaking past the dwarves who took up too much space, he thought. They huffed at him and the auburn-haired one – Gimli, he remembered and he had the feeling that he had heard the name before, sometime long ago – gave him a disgruntled look beneath his bushy eyebrows. He returned it with an icy stare of his own.
He went to the dining room where he found Olchon, Panchon, Nìdhes and Eril, drinking and eating with some of the elves from Imladris. His arrival made the air ring of pleasant greetings and offers of drinks. He declined, not feeling like he could get anything down.
He was going to Mordor. He was going to help save Middle Earth. He might not come back.
"Are you sure, Legolas?" asked Elrohir, the youngest of Lord Elrond's sons, and waved a silver cup in the prince's direction. "It's not often we're joined with elves from the Woodland Realm. It's a cause for celebration."
"I think you've had too much 'celebration', brother", said Elladan and drew laughter from the others.
Elrohir smiled good-naturally and took another gulp of the purple wine.
"Is there something you wanted help with, my Lord?" asked Eril politely and her grey eyes seemed to search his face for any sign of trouble.
"If I could borrow Olchon for a moment, that would be all", he said and offered the guard a slight smile.
Olchon looked surprise, but nodded. He couldn't disobey his prince. The dark-haired elf swept down the last of his drink and stood up.
"Walk with me", offered the prince and decided once and for all that this would be for the best.
Olchon nodded and followed. The two elves walked through open corridors to the sound of waterfalls and birds. Everything was lighter than their forest and it felt safe there, like evil wouldn't dare enter. He stopped at a terrace that had a beautiful view over the valley. The leaves had the same color as Tauriel's hair and it made him sad.
"I won't return with you", he said, keeping his eyes on the silver water and auburn leaves.
"My Lord?"
"All of you will find out soon enough", he continued as if Olchon hadn't spoken. "I tell you this, because I want you to look after Tauriel when I'm gone." It hurt to say, but it also felt like the right thing to do.
"I don't think that she needs anyone to look after her", said Olchon slowly. "She can manage perfectly well on her own."
"I know", he admitted, because he knew it was the truth. "But she'll need a friend."
He turned to look at Olchon and his blue eyes bore into the other's dark ones. The other elf frowned and he looked uncertain, on his forehead appeared deep lines. Eventually he nodded, though he still looked troubled. The prince smiled and clasped his shoulder, feeling relieved.
"Diola lle", he said gratefully. "You might return to the others. Enjoy the light and happiness as long as it lasts. The world's about to turn darker."
He nodded to the guard and walked away, strolling and feeling at peace. He whistled along with the birds and enjoyed the calm and quiet. There was no telling when he would feel it again. Pictures of his father and Tauriel flashed before his eyes, but he blinked them away. After all, he was doing it for them. For them and the world they loved.
He didn't run into Iorisben and he was glad for that. He knew that the older elf disapproved of his choice, but he didn't have the patience to listen to him. A pleasant surprise met his eyes as he walked out in the gardens. There were flowers there – white, blue, purple, lavender and twilight pink – and there scents filled the air, tickling his senses. However, sitting on a bench, staring out over the garden, was a hobbit. He had white hair and more wrinkles than last they saw each other, but he looked as troubled and lost as he had done then. The elf approached him quietly, with a melancholic feeling in his chest.
"Good evening, master Baggins", he said softly with the same tone as the rippling stream.
The hobbit broke out of his reveries and startled looked to his left and set his eyes upon the tall elf. He smiled crookedly, making more wrinkles appear around his eyes.
"Yes it is", he agreed in a quiet voice, raspy of age. "Though I think it might rain later."
Both of them look to the sky. It was a farrago of blue, gold, pink and a bright, pale green.
"I don't think so", he told the hobbit.
"Oh, but I do", the tiny man replied. "After sunshine comes the worst rain. Always."
The elf didn't know what to say to that. Bilbo patted the spot next to him on the bench with a gnarled hand and he sat down.
"Frodo told me that you'll accompany them on the quest."
"Yes."
"You're an excellent archer if I recall correctly", Bilbo mused and watched a couple of butterflies flutter around a couple of white flowers nearby. "You'll help keep them safe, won't you? Frodo and the other lads?"
The hobbit looked so worried that his heart went out with him. A small voice in the back of his head whispered in a wondrous voice if his father wouldn't be as worried as well, even more? He repressed it.
"I've learned that hobbits are quite the adventurous types", he said and Bilbo chuckled and shook his head. "At least all the hobbits I've ever met have been joining in on an adventure." He paused and put a reassuring hand on the old hobbit's shoulder. "I'll do my best to protect them, amin vanda, but Frodo will bear a heavy burden."
"I know", sighed Bilbo and he sounded heartbroken. "But thank you. Aa' menealle nauva calen ar' malta."
The prince blinked, a bit surprised over the use of elvish, but pleased all the same. He smiled and the two of them sat in a comfortable silence, before he asked a question that he had asked many years before, but now hoped that he could get another answer to:
"How are you feeling, master Baggins?"
The hobbit continued to look out over the garden and his voice was heavy and tired when he answered and the answer was the same as many years before:
"I don't know. I thought that I would find peace here, but how can I find peace when so many people I care about will march out into the unknown?" A lone tear trickled down his face. "Do I even deserve peace?"
The elf looked to the sky in thought. A few stars had started to appear and as always, he thought of Tauriel because of how much she loved the light of the stars.
"I do not know, master Baggins", he confessed and he watched as the hobbit's shoulders slouched. "Though I think that you do, but who can tell what others deserve and what not?"
They didn't speak after that, just enjoying each other's silent company. It was the calm before the storm and he was going to enjoy it. Who knew what would lie ahead of them?
Diola lle - Thank you
Amin vanda - I promise
Aa' menealle nauva calen ar' malta - May your ways be green and golden
