If Legolas hadn't been an elf, he never would have heard Nimrodel leave. She moved so silently, he almost lost the sound underneath the slow whispers of the trees. Leaving his lookout, he followed her. She walked through the trees and crossed a shallow creek before taking a seat on a fallen tree. He watched her stare into the blackness of the night, illuminated only by the few moonbeams that penetrated the thick forest. She sat there for a few minutes, motionless, and then slowly, she turned and looked straight at him. Startled, he stood there silently.
"Legolas." She said softly. He saw them almost immediately. Tear streaks down both cheeks, silver glitter trails shining on her pale face. "He's gone isn't he?"
"Lord Amroth, my lady-star?" Just the mention of his name caused her so much pain. He could see it on her face. She nodded.
"I miss him so, Legolas. He never stopped looking for me. I know that because I felt him searching. I heard the earth whispering about a search, and an Elven King. And then one day it stopped. Did he go to the Grey-Havens? Does he still wait? Or has what I've feared occurred?" She stood up, and shakily walked to him. She looked straight at him, and he could read all of her questions in her eyes. He looked down, and shook his head solemnly. He couldn't bear to answer those eyes. Time passed, and he looked back up.
"We have heard nothing from Amroth since he left. He has not gone to the Grey-Havens. Galadriel no longer feels his presence." He said softly. The look she gave him was heartbreaking. A face that showed bitter understanding, eyes full of tears, and yet, she did not cry. She looked at him, and turned quickly to flee. He caught her hand as she turned. Pulling her to him, he tried to comfort her as best he could. Whispering soft elven words of encouragement, he took both of her hands and kissed them. "He would not want you to give up here, my lady, but to go on to the Grey-Havens. That is where you belong."
"I do not think I can go on without him, young one." For a moment, Legolas thought he saw her beauty betray her, and she looked truly old. She kept the countenance of the great queen she was, but instead of the mystifying elven beauty she had been a moment before, she was worn and frail. She buried her face into his shoulder and he felt her body shake with the sobs that finally broke free from her. They remained like this for some time, before she looked up suddenly and looked over Legolas's shoulder. "Your friend. He is awake, and looking for you."
Legolas turned around to see the shadow of Gimli disappear behind a tree. He smiled and looked back at Nimrodel. She wasn't crying anymore, but the tears still glistened on her cheeks. She forced a smile, but he saw through it.
"My lady, do not give up hope. You will soon be home." But when she looked at him, the shine was gone from her eyes. The stars were dark.