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Everlasting Road ch. 18
Legolas once again roamed solitarily underneath the trees. The sun was about to rise in about an hour, and Legolas had yet to actually set foot in his own home with Thranduil. After he had finally parted himself from Liria, he had led her to her house and watched her go inside, making sure she would stay there and rest. He had then wandered, giving thought once again to the impossible problem set before him. Legolas was still no where near an answer, if anything, it had become even harder for him. It had been easier for him to say he would leave with Gimli when he had upset Liria, for he would want to be far from her grief. But now, nothing seemed plausible.
Legolas stopped in his tracks and gazed about him wearily. He sensed another's presence. He sighed inwardly to himself, he could never be alone, not even to think. Legolas was surprised when an elf-guard jumped down from a tree in his path.
"My Prince," began the guard, "I wish to apologize again."
For a moment, Legolas was confused. Then his mind cleared and he remembered, this was the guard who had stopped him upon entering Mirkwood. Resentment flamed within him for a moment, but it quickly passed.
"All is well, you were only doing the task which had been set before you. I could have been expected to do the same. Do not trouble yourself over this matter any longer." Legolas could see the guard's face brighten as he finished speaking and his shoulders lifted, as if he had been indeed worrying over it.
Legolas made a move to step forward, but the guard did not budge. "May I ask what ails you, my Lord?" he questioned.
Legolas frowned. Just because he had forgiven the guard for his insolence did not make them immediate best friends. He was under no obligation to make any reply. Before Legolas could order him off, the guard spoke again.
"I know that it is something with the lady and the dwarf. I have observed you often when you are in the forest. Do not think that I was intentionally spying on you, but the king has appointed me to watch over the Prince and offer protection. And though you have often been in my sights, I was never close enough to eavesdrop I assure you." The guard was eager to explain his reasons so that he would not risk angering Legolas again.
Legolas sighed. Obviously this guard was not going to leave him be until he knew something. "Yes, there are issues with the lady and the dwarf. But what they are hold no basis for your interest. Your duty is to protect my flesh, not my heart." With that, Legolas stepped forward and the guard reluctantly gave way, allowing him to pass by. When he had passed him, Legolas turned back, "And I relieve you of your duties. You can offer me no protection from any evil, as I can shoot anything as easily as you." The guard was about to point out that Legolas was without his bow, but chose to quell the statement. Legolas left the guard to himself, wondering if he had succeeded in nothing save for causing the prince more anger.
The sun's rays started to filter through the trees, tingeing the sky a rosy color. Legolas looked up at the rising sun, then turned. He had made a quick decision, and he wished to be gone as soon as possible before anybody noticed. He would not be able to handle another day in Mirkwood, where he could not be alone and he could not enjoy the pleasures of Mirkwood as his present plight worried him with no relief. The only thing to do now was leave on his own. He needed to be alone in the forest, able to have time to himself. He would come back, of course, he just was not sure when.
By the time everybody had awoken in Mirkwood, including Liria and Gimli, he should be well without the borders. They would not know where to find him, and he would have time to think. Whether he would come to a decision seemed doubtful, but he at least had a plan. Legolas picked up his pace, eager to get out. It was kind of funny in a way, he had longed to be back home during the whole War of the Ring, and now that he was here he could not get away from it fast enough.
Legolas reached the trees outside of Mirkwood and started an easy lope. It was a lope that was easy enough to not tire him out, but was still faster than most animals could run. He would be at a few miles distance in no time, and even then he considered that he would not stop. Legolas had the sudden urge to keep on going forever, until he reached the ports that would take him across the sea and into the Havens, away from everything. Nothing would bother him then.
For a second the desire to do that was so strong that his pace faltered and his feet turned their direction slightly. But he quickly corrected himself and continued on in his lope, away from the Havens. What was he thinking? Even if he did reach the ports, he knew that he could never leave Liria and Gimli behind. Perhaps Liria would cross the seas and find him again one day, but he could never expect to see Gimli again, and he found that that was something he could not face. Despite the recent happenings between him and his friend, they had still been through much and came out of it together.
Legolas finally stopped when he had gone more than a few miles. O Elbereth, he thought, what am I to do? Legolas dropped to his knees and bowed his head in his hands. And the sun continued to relentlessly move forward and brighten the world.
Everlasting Road ch. 18
Legolas once again roamed solitarily underneath the trees. The sun was about to rise in about an hour, and Legolas had yet to actually set foot in his own home with Thranduil. After he had finally parted himself from Liria, he had led her to her house and watched her go inside, making sure she would stay there and rest. He had then wandered, giving thought once again to the impossible problem set before him. Legolas was still no where near an answer, if anything, it had become even harder for him. It had been easier for him to say he would leave with Gimli when he had upset Liria, for he would want to be far from her grief. But now, nothing seemed plausible.
Legolas stopped in his tracks and gazed about him wearily. He sensed another's presence. He sighed inwardly to himself, he could never be alone, not even to think. Legolas was surprised when an elf-guard jumped down from a tree in his path.
"My Prince," began the guard, "I wish to apologize again."
For a moment, Legolas was confused. Then his mind cleared and he remembered, this was the guard who had stopped him upon entering Mirkwood. Resentment flamed within him for a moment, but it quickly passed.
"All is well, you were only doing the task which had been set before you. I could have been expected to do the same. Do not trouble yourself over this matter any longer." Legolas could see the guard's face brighten as he finished speaking and his shoulders lifted, as if he had been indeed worrying over it.
Legolas made a move to step forward, but the guard did not budge. "May I ask what ails you, my Lord?" he questioned.
Legolas frowned. Just because he had forgiven the guard for his insolence did not make them immediate best friends. He was under no obligation to make any reply. Before Legolas could order him off, the guard spoke again.
"I know that it is something with the lady and the dwarf. I have observed you often when you are in the forest. Do not think that I was intentionally spying on you, but the king has appointed me to watch over the Prince and offer protection. And though you have often been in my sights, I was never close enough to eavesdrop I assure you." The guard was eager to explain his reasons so that he would not risk angering Legolas again.
Legolas sighed. Obviously this guard was not going to leave him be until he knew something. "Yes, there are issues with the lady and the dwarf. But what they are hold no basis for your interest. Your duty is to protect my flesh, not my heart." With that, Legolas stepped forward and the guard reluctantly gave way, allowing him to pass by. When he had passed him, Legolas turned back, "And I relieve you of your duties. You can offer me no protection from any evil, as I can shoot anything as easily as you." The guard was about to point out that Legolas was without his bow, but chose to quell the statement. Legolas left the guard to himself, wondering if he had succeeded in nothing save for causing the prince more anger.
The sun's rays started to filter through the trees, tingeing the sky a rosy color. Legolas looked up at the rising sun, then turned. He had made a quick decision, and he wished to be gone as soon as possible before anybody noticed. He would not be able to handle another day in Mirkwood, where he could not be alone and he could not enjoy the pleasures of Mirkwood as his present plight worried him with no relief. The only thing to do now was leave on his own. He needed to be alone in the forest, able to have time to himself. He would come back, of course, he just was not sure when.
By the time everybody had awoken in Mirkwood, including Liria and Gimli, he should be well without the borders. They would not know where to find him, and he would have time to think. Whether he would come to a decision seemed doubtful, but he at least had a plan. Legolas picked up his pace, eager to get out. It was kind of funny in a way, he had longed to be back home during the whole War of the Ring, and now that he was here he could not get away from it fast enough.
Legolas reached the trees outside of Mirkwood and started an easy lope. It was a lope that was easy enough to not tire him out, but was still faster than most animals could run. He would be at a few miles distance in no time, and even then he considered that he would not stop. Legolas had the sudden urge to keep on going forever, until he reached the ports that would take him across the sea and into the Havens, away from everything. Nothing would bother him then.
For a second the desire to do that was so strong that his pace faltered and his feet turned their direction slightly. But he quickly corrected himself and continued on in his lope, away from the Havens. What was he thinking? Even if he did reach the ports, he knew that he could never leave Liria and Gimli behind. Perhaps Liria would cross the seas and find him again one day, but he could never expect to see Gimli again, and he found that that was something he could not face. Despite the recent happenings between him and his friend, they had still been through much and came out of it together.
Legolas finally stopped when he had gone more than a few miles. O Elbereth, he thought, what am I to do? Legolas dropped to his knees and bowed his head in his hands. And the sun continued to relentlessly move forward and brighten the world.