~A Dead End~
He had seen her fall and the panic rose up within him. Can Lilana be dead? No! He couldn't allow himself to think like that.
As he continued to battle, he slowly drew closer to the place where she fell. There was no sign of anything. There was only blackness.
True to Maibuik's word, the orcs started to scatter and run. The remaining, braver orcs stayed to get slaughtered.
Legolas hastily looked around, making sure that there were no more orcs hiding and then peered over the edge of the cliff. Again, there was no sign of her and neither was there sign of any other living creatures.
Slowly, he picked his way through fallen bodies and came to the orc Lily had fallen with her knife.
He knew she had saved his life before she had saved his again. Slowly he kneeled down and then pulled out the knife, wiping off the black blood.
Sheathing it, he stood up again and walked around in search of Maibuik.
Undoubtedly, he was dead, but he still needed to find the one that fought bravely for them, as one of them.
It was hard to find him with all the other orc bodies lying around, but once he caught a glimpse of the battle-ax, he knew that the orc was nearby.
He found Maibuik not three minutes later.
This time, he again kneeled down, but instead of pulling anything out, he fell to his knees.
The orc had an arrow protruding from his throat and several other weapons embedded into him at various places of his body.
With a deep sigh of regret, Legolas shut the wide eyes of his brief orc friend and then placed the battle-ax into his hand.
There was no more that he could do now.
When he stood up all he heard was silence.
Wasting no more time, he began a swift run toward Rivendell.
Lilana could not be dead.
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~Remaining Hope~
Legolas gathered over fifty elves as quickly as possible and led them back to the battle site. Not many were quite willing, for they knew that orcs were near. Elrond would be coming for more, but he was still overly shattered by the news. It could not be true.
Maibuik was given a royal burial, even though he was an orc. Preparations were made and Legolas as well as Elrond was present, along with other solemn elves.
After that was concluded, the Prince, Elrond, and nearly two hundred other elves returned to the battle area.
Some climbed down the sides of the cliff because they were unable to find another way down, but the dangers were too much.
The party of two hundred spent five days there, looking for anything that could increase their hopes.
Nothing was found.
Refusing to believe that Lily was dead until a body was found, Legolas was organizing a plan to go down into the dark, where no one had ventured before, but Elrond stopped him.
The elf-man was solemn, both his eyes and voice were dull and emotionless. Sadly, he said to him, "Legolas, do not journey forth anymore. If there is a chance she is alive and she comes back to Rivendell, she would be even more heartbroken to know that you have died in search of her. From what you tell me, she sacrificed herself for you. Do not lead us into further sorrow for your death as well."
Although he was going to refuse what Elrond had said, the misery in his eyes convinced him to stop.
Legolas sighed and shook his head, watching the elf-man, who looked much older and desolate now than before, walk away.
Lily's godfather had no more hope.
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~Naught but a Memory~
For days the gloom of Lilana, godchild of Elrond, angel amongst men's death hovered over Rivendell like a dark cloud. It did not rest and it did not lighten.
Legolas stayed in Rivendell for another fortnight, waiting for news when he knew none would come.
He kept thinking he heard Lily's voice calling him, teasing him, or asking him questions, but there was nothing.
Lying down on the bed that had once been prepared for him by the young girl, he sighed deeply. A glitter caught his eye and he sat up and went over to his cloak that hung on the wall. He had not touched it since he returned to Rivendell the day Elrond told him not to continue.
Reaching into the pocket, he pulled out two things: the pouch of valuables and a piece of paper.
Anger surged through him as he remembered what was written on the paper. He had taken the paper off of the desk from Lilana's tower. It was from Jesine.
Willing himself to control his anger, he neatly folded it and tucked it into his belt, along with the pouch and Lily's last knife.
He would be setting back to Mirkwood in less than half a day.
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~The Last Departure~
Legolas gave both the knife and pouch to Elrond, giving him only a brief explanation about both. He gave Elrond, who sat slouched in his chair, a deep bow and said farewell. The only reply he received was a somber nod. The master of Rivendell closed his eyes.
The one that had eluded him for two whole weeks now stood in front of the door. Jesine.
Her face seemed paler than it was before, although it had always been light.
Light that had shimmered in her beautiful hair once seemed now an evil's flame to him.
Was this the beautiful lady that he had once wanted to marry? It could not be true.
Jesine looked up at him, tears filling in her eyes, ready to fall into the Prince's arms and sob her heart out for the death of Lilana.
But Legolas just stood there for a brief minute, looking down at her, expressionless, emotionless.
When a frown started to mar her brow, he pulled the paper from his belt, took her hand, and placed the letter in it.
He knew that if he stayed any longer, his anger would take over him.
Not losing a second, she had already opened the neatly folded paper and looked at it. Her face flushed.
The Prince glanced back at Elrond, who seemed not to have caught the exchange, but from the tilt of his head, Legolas knew that he had seen it.
Something will be done, but it would not be done by him.
As he stepped into the stables, he remembered that day before Lilana had suddenly disappeared for reasons not known until now.
Jesine, he thought, what a traitorous, deceitful, evil woman. How could he have fallen for that kind of woman?
He remembered the pain he had seen in Lilana's eyes, the exhaustion and hopelessness that day before she was gone. All he had wanted to do with bring the hope back for her. The way she had seen his own hopelessness fill and made a way to prevent it still warmed his heart. She cared more for what he felt than for herself.
The selfless child had done nothing wrong, he knew, yet he had blamed her for striking Jesine. Still, he could not believe that he could have been so blind.
Taking a deep breath, he attempted to calm the inner turmoil going on within himself.
Lilana had died for him. She had died because of him.
No, he would not think that way. It would be no help.
He lowered his head as he felt a tear course down his cheek.
The new silence of the stables overwhelmed him. Never would he hear the laughter from Lilana, brought by her love for her two horses. Never again would he see the brilliant joy and wonderful innocence that had once made his own enjoyment nearly bubble over.
This was an end.
With a deep, remorseful sigh, he saddled his white horse and mounted it.
As he rode out of the stables, he saw only a few that had gathered to send him off, including Elrond.
The only expression on his face was guilt and gloom, brought on by his near-daughter's death.
Raising a hand in salute, he urged his horse from a slow walk to a paced trot.
His black cloak, a sign of his mourning, fluttered in the breeze.
Before he disappeared over the ridge, his voice could be heard singing a sad song that Lilana had once sung when she was but a child. It was a mourning song.
High in the heavens
Low in the dreams
A spirit sorrowfully flies
Over the hollowed greens
Once a sprout of laughter
Once a smile of joy
Now a pained reminder
That life is not a toy
It is a delicate thing
Not meant to be played with
Balanced on a very thin string
Easily becoming a myth
Do not grieve for the grieved, then
Yet look into the heavenly skies
Understand that things are not what it's been
And that now, near the sun, another soul flies...
He had seen her fall and the panic rose up within him. Can Lilana be dead? No! He couldn't allow himself to think like that.
As he continued to battle, he slowly drew closer to the place where she fell. There was no sign of anything. There was only blackness.
True to Maibuik's word, the orcs started to scatter and run. The remaining, braver orcs stayed to get slaughtered.
Legolas hastily looked around, making sure that there were no more orcs hiding and then peered over the edge of the cliff. Again, there was no sign of her and neither was there sign of any other living creatures.
Slowly, he picked his way through fallen bodies and came to the orc Lily had fallen with her knife.
He knew she had saved his life before she had saved his again. Slowly he kneeled down and then pulled out the knife, wiping off the black blood.
Sheathing it, he stood up again and walked around in search of Maibuik.
Undoubtedly, he was dead, but he still needed to find the one that fought bravely for them, as one of them.
It was hard to find him with all the other orc bodies lying around, but once he caught a glimpse of the battle-ax, he knew that the orc was nearby.
He found Maibuik not three minutes later.
This time, he again kneeled down, but instead of pulling anything out, he fell to his knees.
The orc had an arrow protruding from his throat and several other weapons embedded into him at various places of his body.
With a deep sigh of regret, Legolas shut the wide eyes of his brief orc friend and then placed the battle-ax into his hand.
There was no more that he could do now.
When he stood up all he heard was silence.
Wasting no more time, he began a swift run toward Rivendell.
Lilana could not be dead.
0x01 graphic
~Remaining Hope~
Legolas gathered over fifty elves as quickly as possible and led them back to the battle site. Not many were quite willing, for they knew that orcs were near. Elrond would be coming for more, but he was still overly shattered by the news. It could not be true.
Maibuik was given a royal burial, even though he was an orc. Preparations were made and Legolas as well as Elrond was present, along with other solemn elves.
After that was concluded, the Prince, Elrond, and nearly two hundred other elves returned to the battle area.
Some climbed down the sides of the cliff because they were unable to find another way down, but the dangers were too much.
The party of two hundred spent five days there, looking for anything that could increase their hopes.
Nothing was found.
Refusing to believe that Lily was dead until a body was found, Legolas was organizing a plan to go down into the dark, where no one had ventured before, but Elrond stopped him.
The elf-man was solemn, both his eyes and voice were dull and emotionless. Sadly, he said to him, "Legolas, do not journey forth anymore. If there is a chance she is alive and she comes back to Rivendell, she would be even more heartbroken to know that you have died in search of her. From what you tell me, she sacrificed herself for you. Do not lead us into further sorrow for your death as well."
Although he was going to refuse what Elrond had said, the misery in his eyes convinced him to stop.
Legolas sighed and shook his head, watching the elf-man, who looked much older and desolate now than before, walk away.
Lily's godfather had no more hope.
0x01 graphic
~Naught but a Memory~
For days the gloom of Lilana, godchild of Elrond, angel amongst men's death hovered over Rivendell like a dark cloud. It did not rest and it did not lighten.
Legolas stayed in Rivendell for another fortnight, waiting for news when he knew none would come.
He kept thinking he heard Lily's voice calling him, teasing him, or asking him questions, but there was nothing.
Lying down on the bed that had once been prepared for him by the young girl, he sighed deeply. A glitter caught his eye and he sat up and went over to his cloak that hung on the wall. He had not touched it since he returned to Rivendell the day Elrond told him not to continue.
Reaching into the pocket, he pulled out two things: the pouch of valuables and a piece of paper.
Anger surged through him as he remembered what was written on the paper. He had taken the paper off of the desk from Lilana's tower. It was from Jesine.
Willing himself to control his anger, he neatly folded it and tucked it into his belt, along with the pouch and Lily's last knife.
He would be setting back to Mirkwood in less than half a day.
0x01 graphic
~The Last Departure~
Legolas gave both the knife and pouch to Elrond, giving him only a brief explanation about both. He gave Elrond, who sat slouched in his chair, a deep bow and said farewell. The only reply he received was a somber nod. The master of Rivendell closed his eyes.
The one that had eluded him for two whole weeks now stood in front of the door. Jesine.
Her face seemed paler than it was before, although it had always been light.
Light that had shimmered in her beautiful hair once seemed now an evil's flame to him.
Was this the beautiful lady that he had once wanted to marry? It could not be true.
Jesine looked up at him, tears filling in her eyes, ready to fall into the Prince's arms and sob her heart out for the death of Lilana.
But Legolas just stood there for a brief minute, looking down at her, expressionless, emotionless.
When a frown started to mar her brow, he pulled the paper from his belt, took her hand, and placed the letter in it.
He knew that if he stayed any longer, his anger would take over him.
Not losing a second, she had already opened the neatly folded paper and looked at it. Her face flushed.
The Prince glanced back at Elrond, who seemed not to have caught the exchange, but from the tilt of his head, Legolas knew that he had seen it.
Something will be done, but it would not be done by him.
As he stepped into the stables, he remembered that day before Lilana had suddenly disappeared for reasons not known until now.
Jesine, he thought, what a traitorous, deceitful, evil woman. How could he have fallen for that kind of woman?
He remembered the pain he had seen in Lilana's eyes, the exhaustion and hopelessness that day before she was gone. All he had wanted to do with bring the hope back for her. The way she had seen his own hopelessness fill and made a way to prevent it still warmed his heart. She cared more for what he felt than for herself.
The selfless child had done nothing wrong, he knew, yet he had blamed her for striking Jesine. Still, he could not believe that he could have been so blind.
Taking a deep breath, he attempted to calm the inner turmoil going on within himself.
Lilana had died for him. She had died because of him.
No, he would not think that way. It would be no help.
He lowered his head as he felt a tear course down his cheek.
The new silence of the stables overwhelmed him. Never would he hear the laughter from Lilana, brought by her love for her two horses. Never again would he see the brilliant joy and wonderful innocence that had once made his own enjoyment nearly bubble over.
This was an end.
With a deep, remorseful sigh, he saddled his white horse and mounted it.
As he rode out of the stables, he saw only a few that had gathered to send him off, including Elrond.
The only expression on his face was guilt and gloom, brought on by his near-daughter's death.
Raising a hand in salute, he urged his horse from a slow walk to a paced trot.
His black cloak, a sign of his mourning, fluttered in the breeze.
Before he disappeared over the ridge, his voice could be heard singing a sad song that Lilana had once sung when she was but a child. It was a mourning song.
High in the heavens
Low in the dreams
A spirit sorrowfully flies
Over the hollowed greens
Once a sprout of laughter
Once a smile of joy
Now a pained reminder
That life is not a toy
It is a delicate thing
Not meant to be played with
Balanced on a very thin string
Easily becoming a myth
Do not grieve for the grieved, then
Yet look into the heavenly skies
Understand that things are not what it's been
And that now, near the sun, another soul flies...